Israeli airforce destroys Union HQ

Date: 22 February 2002

The world's trade union leadership reacted this week in horror to the destruction of some 40% of the headquarters of the Palestine General
Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) in Nablus, in the northern part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Fortunately, no one was killed in the attack.

According a strongly-worded press release issued by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, "such attacks do not reduce tensions in
the occupied territories nor lead to any improvement in Israel's internal security." The ICFTU calls on Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to launch a full investigation into the matter and urges that "full compensation be awarded by the Israeli state to the PGFTU" for all resulting damage.

The ICFTU's statement is here:

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Language=EN&Index=991214783

A similar statement was issued yesterday by the international trade secretariats (now known as "Global Union Federations") which called on
Israel to "publicly investigate the circumstances behind this air attack on the PGFTU and to make appropriate compensation to the organisation for what was, we hope, accidental damage to their headquarters and property."

To let Prime Minister Sharon know your own feelings about this attack, and to support the call for a public investigation and full compensation to the Palestinian unions so that they can rebuild their headquarters (which was
built with the financial support of unions from around the globe), we suggest the following urgent actions:

1. Email Prime Minister Sharon:

pm_eng@pmo.gov.il

2. Send messages of solidarity to the PGFTU at this email address:

pgftu@pgftu.org

3. Let the Israeli trade union movement know how you feel. Email Amir Peretz, the leader of the Histadrut -- the General Federation of Labour in
Israel. His email address is:

aperetz@knesset.gov.il

For further information

Contact:	Phil Davey
Union:	CFMEU
Phone:	0414 867188

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