Monthly Reports on WAC's Activities

E-Reports

May 2006

January 2006

November 2005

October 2005

September 2005

August 2005

July 2005

Workers Advice Center - WAC (Ma'an)

Registered Non Profit Association No. 58-03253-63

Head Office: Nazareth Eastern Qua. - POB 2647I Israel Zip Code 16126

Tel: +972-4-6020680 Fax: +972-4-6462152

E-mail: maan@maan.org.il

Web Site: www.workersadvicecenter.org

WAC's E-Report No. 8

May 2006

WAC's May E- Report includes items on:

WAC's May Day event in Tel Aviv draws wide range support and media coverage.
WAC leaders present crisis of unemployment among Arab workers at high level meetings.
March 8^th – International Women's Day – WAC organizes demo of Arab women demanding jobs in Agriculture.
Asma Agbarieh the head of DAAM (ODA) Party in the recent Israeli Elections puts workers' issues on the top of the political agenda. She calls for building a new Workers' Party that aims to unite Arab and Jewish workers.

1. WAC's May Day event: Workers Hold Their Heads High

On the eve of May Day (Sunday April 30th), hundreds of Arab construction workers, farm workers (mainly women), Israeli social activists and artists assembled in Tel Aviv to celebrate May Day. The event was organized by WAC-MAAN (Workers Advice Center) and the political party ODA (Organization for Democratic Action).

On regular days, Arab workers from the Galilee, the Triangle and East Jerusalem do not feel at home in Tel Aviv. For two hours, however, they liberated the square of the Cinematheque in the heart of the city. One could see this on their faces: they felt confident and happy to be there.

Five leading singers, Israeli and Arab, contributed to the upbeat mood. Amir Lev, Dan Toren, Nati Ornan, Jalal Ayub and the Arab-Jewish "Lenses" sang workers' songs in Arabic, Hebrew and English to emphasize the day's internationalist spirit.

After an opening speech by moderator Ishai Golan, Asma Agbarieh took the podium. Agbarieh was ODA's first candidate in the recent Knesset elections. She tempered the cheer somewhat by drawing a comparison with last year's May Day celebration in the same place. "What has changed?" she asked. "Poverty has deepened. We have a predatory government serving the interests of the rich. These people sail around in their yachts, and in order to pay for the yacht's gasoline they fire their workers."

As for Amir Peretz, the Labor Party head who is slated to be Defense Minister in the new government, Agbarieh had this to say: "Here's a man who many thought was an authentic workers' leader. But his 'social revolution' has ended with tanks. Amir is it with tanks and artillery that you're going to stop poverty, or are you going to use them to fight in Gaza and the West Bank?"

Jose Escovar, aged 15, spoke in the name of the Hotline for Migrant Workers. He talked of his mother – a migrant worker from Equador – who works 15 hours a day. Escovar called on workers to fight the slave conditions of migrants and to stop their brutal harassment and deportation by the police.

Assaf Adiv, WAC's National Coordinator presented a bleak picture of the labor market in Israel today: "While the stock exchange rises and billionaires make fortunes, more and more workers in Israel are subjected to subcontractors and personnel companies, where they have no social benefits. More than 25% of the workers in Israel earn less than the minimum wage." Adiv specified WAC's gains in the last year, including opening employment in agriculture and construction according to the terms of the collective agreements with WAC.

Malek Murad, WAC organizer said: "We are not going to shut up just because they want us to. We will fight for our right to a decent job. Do not give us charity. We want jobs, real jobs, and together with WAC we will get them."

Wafah Tayara, a female Arab farm worker who leads WAC's efforts among women, ended the event with a speech full of energy and spirit. Tayara told the workers to see WAC as their address and to join its ranks, because it provides protection and support. "But not only that," she said. "We workers, especially Arabs, are in need of a political voice. Just as the employers who exploit us are supported by the government, we need our own party. ODA was the only party that talked to me not as somebody's wife or daughter. It offered me to be a candidate and a leader in the elections."

At the climax of the event, twenty workers, including six women, employed in agriculture, were given certificates of appreciation by WAC representatives. These men and women were chosen by their work teams as the workers who proved to be most dedicated to their group's needs.
Other speakers at the event were, Haitham Zahalka, leader of the Working Youth, and Shula Keshet from "Ahoti" ("My sister"), an association supporting women below the poverty line.
The theme of the event can be summarized in Asma Agbarieh's words: "We are going to fight and take what belongs to us workers. Let no one delude himself that we will give up."

Photographic Exhibit

Together with the speeches, the Cinematheque Square offered a photo exhibit organized by ActiveStills, an independent group of photographers. Included were pictures by some of most prominent progressive photographers in Israel including: Nir Kafri, Miki Kratsman, Eldad Rafaeli, and Shuka Glutman.

Pictures of the event

Pictures of the Exhibition (Hebrew text)

2. WAC leaders present crisis of unemployment among Arab workers in high level meetings

Recently, WAC leaders presented the situation of unemployment among Arab workers in a number of high level meetings. The meetings were held with Mr. Udi Shental, Deputy General Director of the Ministry of Trade Commerce and Labor, A meeting with Mr. Ya'acov Zigdon – Deputy General Manager of the Employment Authority, two presentations in front of Knessent Special Committee on Mehalev – Workfare program (Known also as the Wisconsin Program), two meetings with the Associations of Industrialists and Contractors.

In all of these meetings WAC presented its position regarding the real level of unemployment among Arabs and especially among Arab Youth and Arab Women. WAC offered a plan in a working paper that was presented to the Employment Authority (see WAC's site). This plan to alleviate unemployment was based on the experience WAC has gained in placement of Arab women in Agriculture.

These meetings have also signified WAC's central role in fighting unemployment. In the meeting with the Deputy General Director of the Employment Ministry (April 11th) WAC's National Coordinator Assaf Adiv was asked to present the view of WAC regarding placement of Arab workers and there was a consensus in the room that WAC is doing a lot more than the Employment Authority regarding Arab workers.

In a position paper dated January 2006, written for a meeting with the deputy director-general of the Employment Ministry, Yaakov Zigdon, WAC proposed the following steps:

a. To subsidize every farmer who employs Israeli workers.

2. A gradual decrease in quotas for the import of migrant workers,

An article by WAC's Coordinator Dani Ben Simhoun was also published lately in Ha'aretz (May 8). Ben Simhoun exposed the lie of the employers that "there are no workers in Israel who want to work in Agriculture and therefore it is necessary to import migrant workers".

WAC conducts jobs placements under the condition that the employer signs an agreement with WAC in accordance with the collective agreement. WAC does not charge the employers for the service of locating the workers and is doing this work in the framework of its concerted effort to overcome a special situation of segregation and neglect that Arab workers face in the Israeli labor market.

3. International Women's Day, March 8, 2006

People passing the government offices at a Tel Aviv intersection paused for a strange sight. A hundred women, Arab workers and Jewish activists, stood on the sidewalk with signs proclaiming: "Women want to leave the circle of poverty!" and "Who said Israeli women don't want to work in agriculture?" From the megaphone came phrases in Arabic. Female farm workers and jobless women had arrived from Galilee to protest against a government policy that leaves them in poverty.

Orit Soudry, who organized the demonstration for the Workers Advice Center (WAC-MAAN), announced that WAC was using this day to urge the opening of jobs for Arab women in Israel. "Today," said Soudry, "we offer the Ministry of Commerce and Industry a genuine opportunity to solve our unemployment problem. We say, 'The key is in your hands. Open the door to employment.'"

For the past year WAC has worked hard to bring Israel's jobless Arab women back into agriculture. Although successful to a point, WAC keeps colliding with an obstacle that can only be removed by government action. The farm bosses claim that employing local workers at the legal minimum wage, including social benefits, is too expensive. They prefer either migrant workers from abroad (who arrive helpless and exploitable, having gone into debt to come here) or locals supplied by a contractor. In both these cases, they needn't pay social benefits.

Sigal Rosen, director of Moked – The Hotline for Migrant Workers, spoke to the demonstrators on March 8, addressing the problems of employing migrants and Israeli citizens she said: "All workers suffer from this, whether they're migrants or Israelis, and the only ones who benefit are the employers. Only solidarity among workers, and only a common struggle for jobs under fair conditions for all, can ensure a dignified existence for you and the migrant workers both."

The women who demonstrated on March 8 are the tip of an iceberg. WAC believes there are thousands like them in the Arab sector who want agricultural jobs. The absence of a government policy to encourage them is partly responsible for the large unemployment in the Arab sector. Agriculture is a potentially excellent source of jobs for Arab women, only 17% of whom presently work outside the home (compared with 50% of Jewish women).

One of the speakers at the demonstration was Siham Alawi, a farm worker from Kufr Qara. Alawi is a WAC member, and a mother of 4. She stressed the importance of women's going out to work: "Today's women refuse to accept the attempt to shut them in the house and keep them from developing. Many have broken the chains of tradition and the patriarchal regime. They've gone out to work, and they've proved their capabilities on all levels."

From the words of Hanna Rashed of Nazareth one can see the change that has taken place: "I'm a mother of three. Till five months ago I was a housewife, but then I began to work for Sindyanna of Galilee (a fair-trade organization marketing olive products). I work eight hours a day and get a salary including an official pay slip with all the social benefits. Going out to work has given me self-confidence and helped me develop. It's also been a positive influence on the children, who see me helping to support the family."

4. Asma Agbarieh's Election Diary: The Workers Who Built the Campaign

The unique election campaign of the ODA put the question of a party for workers in the center stage of Israeli politics. Asma Agbarieh, the candidate of the ODA was the only woman who headed a list for the Knessent. She presented a forceful advocacy in the name of the workers she represented. Following is part of her "Election Diary" as was published in Challenge Magazine (May -June 2006). For the full article and other information of ODA's campaign see its site: www.odaction.org

"Early February. Kufr Qara. Two months until elections. It is a meeting between members of ODA-DAAM, the Organization for Democratic Action, and a group of workers women and men. Today the workers will make a decision as to whether they want to be on the list of ODA candidates for the Knesset. The topic is at the end of the agenda. I'm on pins and needles. Unlike me, the workers sit relaxed in their seats. The youngest is 27, the oldest, Munir Ka'war (Abu Wisam) is 66. His opinion counts the most for me. And for a reason.

Three years ago, when ODA last ran, Abu Wisam claimed that the society wasn't ready for the notion that manual workers could represent themselves: "People will say, 'What do they know about politics?'" When the time arrived to discuss ODA, I asked, "What do you think today, Abu Wisam?" Instead of answering directly, he told the group a story: "Thirty years ago I worked at a building site in Tel Aviv with a young construction engineer from Russia. He used to invite me during the break for a cup of coffee nearby. One day that I'll never forget, one of our fellow workers asked us to take him along so he could go to the bank. After he'd done what he needed, he returned to the car to wait for us while we had our usual coffee. We yelled to him that he should come join us. He excused himself, because he was embarrassed about his dirty work clothes. To my astonishment, the engineer got up, took a stand in the middle of this Tel Aviv street, and delivered a speech in praise of the workers, telling my friend, 'You are the foundation of the whole society!' In Russia they knew how to value the worker."

This story was the dramatic introduction to Abu Wisam's announcement that he would join the ODA list. He was joined by laborers from Kufr Qara, Nazareth, Um al-Fahm, Kfar Manda, Shaab and other places – for a total of 29 men and women.

Workers Advice Center - WAC (Ma'an)

Registered Non Profit Association No. 58-03253-63

Head Office: Nazareth Eastern Qua. - POB 2647I Israel Zip Code 16126

Tel: +972-4-6020680 Fax: +972-4-6462152

E-mail: maan@maan.org.il

Web Site: www.workersadvicecenter.org

WAC's E-Report No. 6

Jan. 2006

Arab women join WAC in demanding jobs

WAC's January E- Report includes items on:

1. WAC's Women's Forum meets in Nazareth, launching a campaign to open job opportunities for Arab women.

2. Since the Gaza disengagement plan in August 2005: Closure orders follow one another and Palestinian workers from Gaza & West Bank are prevented from going to their work places in Israel.

3. 6 months to Mehalev Wisconsin Plan. State Comptroller accepts requests of critics of the plan and decides to scrutinize it.

4. Roni Ben Efrat represents WAC and Sindyanna of Galilee in Australia and Honk Kong

1. WAC Organizes Female Agricultural Workers

Some seventy women from the Galilee and the Triangle gathered in the WAC center in Nazareth on November 26. This was the first conference of female agricultural workers. Some of the women who attended the conference participate in the basket weaving courses in Nazareth and Kufr Qara, which WAC is organizing together with Sindyanna of the Galilee (see: http://www.sindyanna.com/index.html) others are still awaiting to find work through WAC.

The purpose of the event was to highlight WAC's campaign to help women find jobs. Lately we have indeed found workplaces for some 30 female agricultural workers with decent wages and full legal and social rights. This is no simple task, taking into consideration the scarcity of work places for Arab female workers, and the lack of encouragement from a conservative society. It is worth mentioning that only 17% of the Arab women in Israel work, a situation which explains why the poverty among the Arab families in Israel reaches 44%.

Hitam Na'amneh of WAC pointed out to another obstacle we face: “this campaign is a great challenge for WAC, in view of the government policy allowing man-power companies to "import" foreign agricultural laborers who are devoid of legal rights, and who work under conditions of super exploitation with a high rate of profit for their employers."

Wafa Tiara, an agricultural worker from Kufr Qara called on the participants to join WAC and its Women Forum, which give full support to its members as women and as workers.

Also was present Asma Agbarieh, the first nominee of the Organization for Democratic Action (ODA-Da’am) party in the present election campaign. Agbarieh, an activist in WAC herself, called the women to take part in building a workers party. Politics is too serious a matter to leave it in the hands of men alone, she said, and the ODA, which initiated WAC proved that it does not speak in slogans, but in deeds.

The conference was held under the slogan – "The woman is the pillar of social development". Yet, as Samia Naser Khatib from Hanitzotz Publishing House explained: "Organized work is the basis of women's empowerment, but it is not enough. The working woman needs also an educational program after work hours, that will widen her horizons, help her cope with all the challenges that she faces as a woman, a mother and a worker in a conservative patriarchal society. Therefore the Womens Forum is launching a special empowerment program for working women both in the Galilee and Kufr Qara."

In order to give the women some taste of what awaits them, they then divided into three workshops with the guidance of three (female) group facilitators: a story-teller Denis Asa'ad, an artist Rania Akel, and a women's coordinator Samia Sharqawi. The participants were enthusiastic. Siham Alawi, an agricultural worker and a mother of four, said: "I believe that the working woman needs such activities, which empower her and renew her energies from week to week." Rula Naamneh, also an agricultural worker and a mother of three said: "There is quite a lot of pressure put on me in the village because I work. The Women's Forum gives me great encouragement."

See also an interview with Wafa Tiara:

http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/Nov-05/Wafa-agric.pdf

2. Since Gaza disengagement plan in August 2005: Closure orders follow one another and Palestinian workers from Gaza & West Bank are forbidden from going to their work places in Israel.

Israel's Gaza disengagement plan was good for Israel's image. It projected Israel as a state attempting to advance peace. In reality, however the Gaza Disengagement plan had a very negative effect when it comes to Palestinian workers. They have been shut behind the Walls of Gaza and the West Bank ever since August, with brief periods of permission to enter Israel.

On January 14^th, after a long period of total closure, the Israeli Army Authorized 10,000 Palestinian workers to enter and work in Israel. It also gave permission to 1,700 international organization employees to enter Israel and 350 of them to enter the Gaza Strip. It allowed 300 workers to enter and work in East Jerusalem. 5 days later however the military operation in Tel Aviv put these 10,000 workers in a difficult situation again.

Furthermore, since December 2005 the Northern West Bank has been sealed completely under security pretexts: No Palestinian is allowed to move from Jenin Tul-Karem and Nablus to Ramallah or further South to Jerusalem. See article in Haaretz: IDF cantonizes West Bank, sealing in 800,000 Palestinians Jan,13^th 2006: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/669812.html

It is important to note that the June 2004 decision of the Israeli Government to approve the Disengagement Plan from Gaza spelled also that no Palestinian worker will be working in Israel as of 2008. see Challenge article : "Hidden in the Disengagement Plan: No Palestinian workers by 2008" (see inside the link) http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/They-Always-Return-big.htm

For more information of Occupation's treatment of workers see: MachsomWatch Summary – December 2005 http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=11531

3. Comptroller to scrutinize Wisconsin Plan

6 months after it started in 4 locations as a pilot, the Mehalev-workfare (Wisconsin) Plan comes under heavy fire. In the Knesset's State Control Committee meeting on Jan 17^th it was decided to refer the Wisconsin Plan to the State Comptroller for examination. The plan, which originated in the United States, aims to train "chronically unemployed" people in a bid to help them integrate into the job market. The Committee convened for a special meeting during the parliament's recess term, on the request of Knesset Member Yuri Shtern (National Union) and in light of the harsh public criticism that has been leveled at the program recently. State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who attended the meeting, said he accepts the committee's recommendation and intends to look into the plan.

WAC has been organizing on the ground since August 2005 to provide council and legal support to unemployed who were transferred to the responsibility of the 4 private companies. One of issues raised by WAC in a formal complaint was that Agens Israel – The company that operates Mehalev Program in Hadera – sends workers to employers that cheat on salaries and pay below minimum wage.

Another issue that was discovered by WAC's lawyer in Jerusalem where Amin Company runs the center, was the fact that the Appeal Committees set by the Ministry of Labour as counter balance to possible arbitrariness of the Company do not include Lawyers. Also absent was a translator from Hebrew to Arabic. The result is that unemployed workers who do not speak fluent Hebrew and do not understand the complicated laws of Social Welfare have no chances of explaining their case. In one case where WAC's Lawyer attended the meeting, he was able to convince the Committee of the just cause of Suzan Khaless. This success is rare. Dozens of people who go to plead their case with the committee, and have no lawyer have no chance to win the case.

For more on Mehalev Plan see: "Punishing the Poor" www.workersadvicecenter.org/Sept_05/Wisconsin.htm

See also: Ex-Bank of Israel official slams Government economic policies see " (Ynet Jan 18^th 2006) www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3202508,00.html

4. Roni Ben Efrat's visit to Australia and Hong Kong.

In the first half of December 2005, Roni Ben Efrat, editor of Challenge, visited Australia and Hong Kong.

Ben Efrat is among the founders of the Workers Advice Center (WAC) and Sindyanna of Galilee. Her visit to Australia was on behalf of WAC, to Hong Kong on behalf of Sindyanna.

In Australia, Ben Efrat made initial contacts with trade unions. They are presently in a major confrontation with the government, Ben Efrat reports, on issues of welfare cuts, privatization, and the “Wisconsin Plan” (the program for moving people “from welfare to workfare,” which is also being tried, with cruel effect, in Israel).

Andrew Casey, National Media and Campaigns Officer for LHMU, explained that the struggle is taking place amid a relatively good economic situation. The government is imposing the cutbacks, he said, in order to harm the Labor Party through the unions. Elections are due in 2007.

In Sydney, Ben Efrat met with Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA), addressing its general convention on December 7. She spoke about the Israeli separation barrier as a last-ditch effort to avoid having to look the Palestinians in the eyes and negotiate an agreement with them.

Ben Efrat met with Andrew Ferguson, the secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union in Sydney. Because many of WAC’s members are in construction, the two discussed ways of working together. Later, in Hong Kong, where the WTO meetings were taking place, Ben Efrat met Sharan Burrow, the President of both ACTU and ICFTU; Alison Tate, the International Officer of ACTU; and Helen Creed, National President of LMHU.

Other high- ranking meetings took place in Canberra with Australian MP Laurie Ferguson, who organized a session for Ben Efrat with other MPs in parliament.

A morning tea was also organized in the offices of the President of the New South Wales (Sydney) Parliament Upper House, Dr. Meredith Burgmann. Here Ben Efrat spoke about the work of WAC and about possible ways of cooperation.

In Melbourne Ben Efrat established contacts with the Australian Jewish Democratic Society, a progressive group that is interested in helping Sindyanna to promote its products. Sol Salbe, the media person of AJDS, moderated a lively discussion between Ben Efrat and the group.

On December 10-16, IFAT, the Asian section of the International Fair Trade Association, along with Oxfam Hong Kong, arranged a fair as an alternative to the WTO events in the city. Some 40 booths, representing as many countries, promoted their fair-trade products and organizations. Sindyanna of Galilee www.sindyanna.com exhibited in the fair.

In her visit, Ben Efrat tried to interest trade unions to buy Sindyanna products and sell/give them to their members. This is how labor can help producers in the south expand their production in a fair manner.

If you are a trade union, and you are interested in such a campaign please write to sindyan@netvision.net.il

Workers Advice Center - WAC (Ma'an)

Registered Non Profit Association No. 58-03253-63

Head Office: Nazareth Eastern Qua. - POB 2647I Israel Zip Code 16126

Tel: +972-4-6020680 Fax: +972-4-6462152

E-mail: maan@maan.org.il

Web Site: www.workersadvicecenter.org

WAC's E-Report No. 5

Nov. 2005

Date: November 22, 2005

The November E- Report includes items on:

Update on the struggle of WAC against the threat to dismantle it.
WAC has taken a major role in a new Government plan to train construction workers. This official recognition puts WAC as a defacto representative body of Arab Construction workers.
Palestinian workers from Gaza & West Bank – World Bank criticizes Israel's refusal to allow workers into work places inside Israel.
Coalition of workers Centers and Social organizations present to the Knesset Committee a grave picture of the 18,000 unemployed workers in the Mehalev – Workfare (Wisconsin) Program.
WAC News in Brief

1. WAC's campaign against Government harassment gains momentum

Many letters of protest were sent by WAC's friends and allies inside Israel and Abroad. (Some of them can be seen in WAC's Campaign site: http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/campaign/Campaign-protest-letters.htm

For background information on the case see:

http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/campaign/wac01.html )

We want to thank those of you who made the effort to send letters and to urge those who did not do it to do the same. The struggle for the legitimization of WAC is crucial.

Since the beginning of October 2005 a new round of struggle began after the Registrar of NPA's in Israel decided to retreat from previous understandings with us and resume his initial plan to take control over WAC and paralyze the Center's work in the defense and the organization of workers.

In a letter sent by the Ministry of Justice to our supporters as a response to their protest letters the fabricated charges against WAC as a “cover-up” for the ODA Party were specified again, and the conclusion of the letter said: "Accordingly the Registrar ordered the commencement of a process of dissolution of the Association".

The campaign of support for WAC has widened considerly in side Israel and is putting a lot of pressuer on the Registrar and the Ministry of Justice. A firm protest letter came from MK Roman Bronfman (Meretz). Another important letter came from a former Legal Advisior to the Government Mr. Michael Ben Yair who the Registrar and supported WAC.

Another important development came from the WCL (World Confederation of Labor) that decided to follow the case of WAC with the ILO. The WCL’s decision came as a response to WAC's appeal to Trade Unions affiliated with ILO to support WAC's appeal to the ILO. In its letter to the Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch International Labor Standards Department – ILO (dated Oct.4. 2005) WAC mentioned that its harassment by the Registrar of NPA's was in contravention of ILO's Convention No. C87 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize. According to article C87, on which Israel has signed, WAC's rights to freedom of organization, freedom to determine the internal regulations of its organizations, its plan of operations, and the choice of its leadership, without interference from the government - should be respected.

2. WAC takes a formal role in a new Government project to train 3000 construction workers

Since 2002 WAC's program "A Job to Win" has been a focus of our work. In the last three years WAC appealed to the Courts, Knesset, Press in its campaign to stop the slave trade of Chinese and Turkish workers and to allow more Arab workers in the Construction industry as organized workforce with full rights. In many cases WAC was smeared by the Contractors for its role against the practice of using cheap and unorganized labor.

Now, for the first time, The Association of Builders and Contractors in Israel (ACBI) {see: http://www.acb.org.il/english.asp} has decided to recognize WAC as a representative body of Arab workers in Israel and invited it to take a formal role in the framework of the new Government plan to train Construction workers.

In a conference of Government officials and major Israeli Contractors held on Oct. 26 2005 in Hamacabia Conference Center in Ramat Gan, the new project was launched with the aim of training 3000 construction workers with in a year. The project that has a budget of NIS 40 million for a year will allow the contractors to receive a subsidy of NIS 1000 a month for each local worker they employ. On the other hand the Project specified the wages that should be paid to the workers which are significantly higher than the current wages in the Construction Branch. The project is considered to be a recognition of the contractors that the free flow of cheap migrant workers has come to an end.

Assaf Adiv, WAC's national Coordinator was one of the speakers in the event together with Mr. Yehuda Segev, the CEO of ACBI, Ms. Sarah Horesh, Head of Vocational Training Departemnt in the Ministry oof Employment and Ms. Ester Domonisiny – Head of Employment Authority. Asiv expressed WAC's readiness to work with the contractors in the framework of this project and to help in organizing Arab workers on the condition that the Contractors employ them according to the collective Agreement and pay the high wages specified in the project.

WAC will put all its experience and resources to organize workers who get the benefits of this project. We will make sure that the contractors’ obligations in the project will be implemented and that the rights and wages promised to the workers will be respected.

3. Agreement on Gaza Crossings leaves out the major issue of Palestinian workers entry into Israel

On Nov. 15 Israel and the PA reached an agreement on the Gaza Crossings. The agreement that was reached with direct involvement of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and only after the Quartet's Mideast envoy, James Wolfensohn threatened his resignation, stipulated the detailes of the Rafah Crossings (Between Gaza and Egypt), Karni (transferring Goods between Israel and Gaza) and the Safe Passage (Between Gaza and the West Bank).

Regardless of the shortcomings of the agreement with regard to these three essential elements of Gaza's population and economy, what was missing from the discussion was the question of Palestinian workers entrance into Israel.

Although Israel announced on Sunday Nov. 20^th that the Erez Crossings form Gaza to Israel will be open for workers, the numbers that would be allowed are negligent. The fact that this issue was even not dealt with in the negotiations is a dangerous signal to the effect that Israel's position of phasing out Palestinian labor has became a fai't Accompli.

The representative of the World Bank criticized Israel: "Israel had promised the World Bank that it would allow 15,000 workers per day to enter Israel from the strip, but has not fulfilled this pledge, allowing fewer than 100 per day in October."

Gaza crossings still closed, By: Daniel Breslau, Weekly Report "Occupation" , 3 - 9 November 2005 http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=9830

See also: Israel, PA to sign Gaza border deal today haaretz 15. Nov.05 http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/645411.html

4. A coalition of Workers' Centers and Social organizations present a very negative report on the first 3 months of the Mehalav-Workfare (“Wisconsin”) program

A coalition of Workers' Centers and Social organizations met on Tuesday Nov.15 with MK Yga'al Yasinov (Shinuy) and presented a report on the first 3 months of the implementation of the Mehalav-Workfare program. The coalition of groups and organizations that support unemployed workers in the 4 Companies that operate the program include: Commitment, Rabies for Human Rights, Alon, Public Advocacy and WAC. The coalition will also present their report in front of a special Knesset Committee to Follow up on the implementation of the Plan to be held under the leadership of MK Haim Oron.

WAC's negative approach to the Mehalav-Workfare program that is based on our experience with Arab unemployed workers (see article in WAC's site ) is shared by all these groups who deal with Jewish unemployed. The first 3 months of the plan in all the Companies showed a similar picture:

- No real jobs available to send people to

- No facilities were prepared to help 18,000 unemployed go to work

- High percentage of the people that were sent to the Companies were actually not fit to work due to age and health situation.

- Companies were sending workers to Temp Agencies and Cleaning Contractors who are not paying salaries in accordance with the law.

Ms. Asma Aghbaria who leads WAC's Follow Up Committee on the new plan sent a detailed complailt to the Hadera based Agens – Israel Company on Nov. 3 and showed that Arab women were put to to work for 12 hours in cleaning schools for a salary of NIS 110 Per day (a lot less than the minimum wage - NIS18 per hour or NIS 144 a day ). Asma Aghbaria was quoted in the local Israeli and Arab press.

5. WAC News in brief

* WAC and HPH (Hanitzotz Publishing House) have opened a new center in Kufr Qara – On Saturday Nov. 12, WAC celebrated the opening of its fifth Center in the Village of Kufr Qara. The event was attended by 70 workers and Youth group activists who are members of WAC in the Village. The Center will provide legal advice for workers and unemployed (unemployed workers from the Village are the victims of the Mehalev – Workfare program in Hadera - see above), provide a base to place workers in construction and agriculture and serve as a center for Youth activities. WAC-HPH will also organize special activities for women: the first of these started Nov. 16 and is a course of Basketry for women workers and housewives organized also in collaboration with Sindyanna of Galilee Association and led by Ronit Pan. Some photos from the opening:

* WAC's fourth Football Championship took place on 18^th in the village Kufr Manda. Seven teams of workers competed including the team of WAC staff. Khalil Hamdan's group from Kufr Qara took the Cup for 2005. Some photos:

* Roni Ben Efrat, WAC's International Relation representative, will visit Australia and Hong Kong. She will meet ACTU, Apheda, LHMU, Church Groups, Jewish progressives and the Peace Movement.

Our readers are encouraged to send comments, questions and suggestions. We recommend you to read further in our site and in our sister publications in English Challenge www.hanitzotz/com/challenge In German www.challenge-magazin.de Arabic - Al Sabar www.hanitzotz/com/alsabar and in Hebrew Etgar : www.etgar.info

Workers Advice Center - WAC (Ma'an)

Registered Non Profit Association No. 58-0325-36-3

Head Office: Nazareth Eastern Qua. - POB 2647I Israel Zip Code 16126

Tel: +972-4-6020680 Fax: +972-4-6462152

E-mail: maan@maan.org.il

Web Site: www.workersadvicecenter.org

WAC's E-Report No. 4

Oct. 2005

Date: October, 3, 2005

Dear friends,

Our October E-Report includes updates on several issues that were dealt with in our previous reports – Palestinian workers, Construction and Agricultural workers, and Me’halev – Welfare to Work (Wisconsin) Plan. Our focus, however is on the renewed harassment of WAC by the Israeli Authorities, this time it is an attempt of the Israeli Registrar of NPAs to take over WAC and change its structure and leadership!

We would ask all of you who were so active in the initial stages of the campaign to make another effort and write the Israeli Minister of Justice a letter of protest (details in the report).

Best regards

Assaf Adiv

National Coordinator

WAC-Ma'an

1. The Israeli Registrar of Non-Profit Associations attempts to take control of the Worker's Advice Center (WAC – Ma’an)

Worker's Advice Center (WAC-Ma'an) Position Paper regarding the Registrar of Non-Profit Association's Threat to dismantle WAC. Oct. 2. 2005

*****

The Registrar of Non-Profit Associations (NPAs) in Israel, Attorney Yaron Kedar, is continuing to harass the Worker's Advice Center (WAC). Even though WAC is completely legal, and even though its activities in promoting workers' rights have gained wide recognition and encouragement, the Registrar's Office continues in its attempts to control WAC and bring the Center's diverse activities to an end.

At the end of September 2005, negotiations between Deputy Registrar Attorney Avital Schreiber and WAC's representative, Attorney Ofir Katz, ran aground. The Registrar's intention to appoint an external auditor to direct WAC reflects a withdrawal from the understandings that were reached between the parties in February 2005.

In November 2004, the Registrar decided to dismantle WAC unless it agreed to a "recovery program" and to the appointment of an external auditor, who would in practice become the Center's manager. This unreasonable decision was based on the findings presented in a report by Accountant Yomtov Bilu who investigated WAC over a period of three years. Bilu claimed to have found serious irregularities in WAC's activities, claiming especially that the Center is not fulfilling its stated objectives: assisting workers. Bilu claimed that WAC is being used to channel funds and resources to a political party: the Organization for Democratic Action (ODA).

WAC rejected each and every one of the Registrar's claims and the findings presented in the report of Accountant Y. Bilu. WAC had consistently claimed that from the beginning there was no justification for the investigation, the "recovery program" or the appointment of an external auditor. The Center operates independently in accordance with the Law of NPAs, and its members determine the direction of its work. It operates according to the objectives it set itself and reports on its diverse activities, including financial reports approved by an accountant, are sent each year to the Registrar.

The Center's activities in promoting worker issues, especially raising the issue of Arab workers in Israel, have won widespread public recognition in Israel and around the world. In order to clarify what this means, we present below a number of initiatives and activities implemented by WAC during the ten months that have passed since the Registrar's decision:

A: Agricultural workers: A meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the placing of workers in the agricultural sector. Invitation to appear before the Knesset Committee for Foreign Workers and widespread media publicity for WAC's work in placing Arab Israeli workers in the sector.

B: The Wisconsin Plan. WAC has initiated the creation of a national committee of jobseekers from Nazareth, Wadi Ara and East Jerusalem to monitor the implementation of the plan and the hardships it causes to thousands of unemployed people. WAC is also a partner in a coalition of social organizations dealing with this issue.

C: Construction workers – placing hundreds of workers in new construction companies. Appearance before the Knesset Committee for Foreign Workers, renewal of the connection with the Contractors' Association.

D: International contacts – A WAC representative was invited as spokesperson for the Israeli Forum at the Mediterranean Social Forum in Barcelona (June 2005). Strengthening of connections with trade unions in Europe and the US.

In addition, it must be noted that ODA, the party which allegedly received funds from WAC (which never happened, and nothing in the findings suggests that this serious allegation has any foundation in reality), is a registered party in Israel which has never been convicted of breaking any law regarding party funding. The State Comptroller, who was asked by the Registrar to check whether funds had been passed from WAC to ODA on the basis of the investigation findings (Bilu's report), refused to open an investigation and notified the Registrar that there was no basis for such investigations.

Given this background, WAC declared that it would not accept the "recovery plan" proposed by the Registrar's Office, and would not accept the appointment of an external auditor since such steps would constitute a serious infringement of its independence. On the other hand, WAC’s Attorney, Ofir Katz, has negotiated with the Registrar in an attempt to find a formulation that would enable the Center to continue to operate freely. The understandings that were reached in February between Attorney Katz and the Deputy Registrar included WAC's agreement to cooperate with the Registrar in finding and correcting any specific technical problems in the way it is managed. (In fact these have already been sorted out.)

However, without any explanation the Registrar has recently decided to withdraw his readiness to be party to such an arrangement, and has notified WAC in writing that he intends to appoint an external auditor with far-reaching powers. For example, Paragraph 3: "The Center will not pay expenses or sign any agreement to pay expenses of over NIS7000 (US$1600) without the written consent in advance of the auditor." Paragraph 5: "The auditor will ensure that the Center is not breaking any laws concerning (the defense of) foreign workers or illegal foreign workers." Paragraph 6: "The auditor will form an opinion concerning whether any need exists to replace any functionaries in the statutory institutions of WAC or its management, and WAC will operate according to his instructions."

The significance of this decision is clear – the Registrar wants to take control of WAC and prevent it from working to promote workers' rights. This should not surprise anyone familiar with the history between the Center and the Registrar. Ever since WAC's founders approached the Registrar to register WAC as an NPA in June 1998, the Center and those working in it have been subject to political harassment. At that time, Amiram Boget was the Registrar, who is associated with the far right. Unfortunately, the new Registrar, Yaron Kedar, continues this harassment.

The hundreds of workers who have joined WAC see it as having a unique place in the struggle for workers' rights and promoting equal opportunities for Arab workers. Any attempts to undermine the legitimacy of this work are completely groundless. They testify that the Registrar's intentions derive from ulterior considerations.

WAC stands firm in its decision to protect workers' rights to organize in the framework of the Center. We call upon all those who support this basic right and see, as we do, the dangers of ongoing harassment of WAC, to join us once again and demand with us:

End the witch-hunt against the Workers' Advice Center!

Seven years of political harassment is more than enough!

Let WAC, which has placed the issue of Arab workers in Israel on the public agenda, continue its activities!

Take part in WAC's campaign by doing one or more of the following:

- Send protest letters to the Israeli embassy/consulate in your country.

- Organize a protest in front of the local Israeli embassy/consulate.

Send protest letters to the Israeli Authorities:

Mr. Meni Mazuz – Attorney General of Israel, Ministry of Justice,

c/o Foreign Relations: Fax: 972-2- 6261862 /

Mail to: ForeignR@justice.gov.il

Attorney Yaron Kedar - The Registrar of NPAs in Israel

POB 95464

Jerusalem 91999 Israel

Ph: +972-2-6546600, Fax: +972-2-6546671

Please send copies to WAC: maan@maan.org.il

See more on the case in English, Arabic and Hebrew.

2. Palestinian workers' struggle for a Job

As Israel evacuated Gaza, Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank find it even harder to get a job and to make a living. The situation in the Palestinian territories has deteriorated so badly during the last five years that according to international reports half of the population live of 2 dollars per day. According to the Palestinian bureau of Statistics, only 31% from the potential working force (15+) in the West Bank, and 24% in Gaza have any kind of job.

During those years the donating countries gave an annual support of 900 million dollars, the highest budget ever given to one state for a long period of time. However this generosity did not solve the problem of poverty. It further deepened the corruption of the Palestinian authority, and the dependence of the Palestinians on outside forces.

No wonder that when Sharon speaks on an “end to Israeli responsibility,” he means, above all, economic responsibility. Israel attempts to slough off responsibility for the systematic economic destruction it wreaked for 38 years.

Israel's Law of Compensation to Employers and workers of the Erez Industrial Zone and the Settlements that were evacuated specifies that only Israeli Citizens can get compensations. WAC's Advocate Emad Khamisy who studied the law points out that this law clearly discriminates between workers on a national basis – and this is a clear contravention of International Conventions and also Israel’s Labor Law.

WAC conducted discussions with workers organizations in Gaza with the aim to get the workers' compensations and especially to force Israel to open the borders for workers and stop the harassment of the Palestinian workers. We will continue updating all of you as soon as any advance has been made and appeals to Israeli Court are filed.

- For a discussion of the Palestinian workers who work in the Settlements See: "Working for the enemy" - by Atef Saad Palestine Report. Sep. 7,2005

http://www.palestinereport.org/article.php?article=905

- For information on Israel's continued control of Gaza see also – "You exist if the Israeli computer says so" – By Amira Hass. Ha'aretz Sep. 28, 2005

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/630040.html

WAC's representatives in the Knesset Committee on Migrant Workers criticize Israeli aim to stop Palestinian workers by 2008

Two representatives of WAC – Assaf Adiv, the National Coordinator, and Malek Murad, WAC’s field worker on construction, attended the Meeting of the Knesset Com. On Migrant Workers Sep. 20^th. The meeting was called to discuss the situation of Migrant workers in the Construction Industry. MK Dani Yatom (Labor), the chair of the Committee asked for reports from the Ministries of Employment, Finance and Internal Affairs. Reports on their side of the situation were given also by the Immigration Police, Israeli Builders and Contractors Association, Man power companies and WAC, representing especially Arab workers in Israel.

In the discussion the Contractors' Association’s General Manager Yehuda Segev, complained that in a recent meeting with Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz they were told that the Government decided to stop the entrance of Palestinian workers to Israel by the year 2008.

see Challenge article: "Hidden in the disengagement plan: No Palestinian workers by 2008" http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/They-Always-Return-big.htm).

As the Contractors usually demand from the Government more permits to import Migrant workers this declaration regarding Palestinian workers was seen as a maneuver. Ha'aretz journalist Zali Grinberg wrote (23.9.05) that the real aim of the Contractors was not the Palestinian workers but to get the Government to allow them to import thousands of Migrant workers from China.

On this see Migrant Workers: "License to Exploit"- Challenge #91 article in WAC’s site: http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/Sept_05/Migrant-Workers.htm

WAC's representatives rejected this logic. WAC indicated that the decision to stop Palestinian labor in 2008 has a damaging effect already today, as employers see no prospects of getting Palestinian workers on a long term basis. This adds to the absurd situation where Israel closes the door for workers for long periods for security pretexts and that makes it difficult for any Contractor to rely on these workers even today.

WAC issued a press release following the Knesset meeting and explained that while unemployment among Arab workers in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories is high it makes no sense to permit the import of cheap workers from China who are actually slaves. According to Kav Laoved report (in Hebrew 22.9.05) each one of the Chinese workers pays US$12,000 to Temp agencies just to get a ticket to Israel and a work permit. Coming to Israel with this debt he is actually ready to accept any job and thus becomes a cheap source of labor no local worker can compete with.

WAC calls on the Government to open the Construction Industry in front of Arab and Palestinian workers and to stop the slave trade altogether. WAC also criticizes the lack of Government efforts to train workers for the Construction industry.

WAC's ability to place more than 1000 Arab workers in the Construction Industry as organized workers with full social benefits, gave it credibility and gained it a special standing in front of Knesset Committees, Government officials, Academic Community, the Press, and not less important, among Construction workers themselves.

- For more info on Israel's Construction Industry and the situation of Palestinian, Migrant and Israeli Arab workers in this industry, and on WAC's activity among Construction workers, see the report of the European TU Delegation that was organized by WAC in April 2004:

http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/Delegation-document2.htm

4. "Video 48" Group will produce a 10 minute film on undocumented Palestinian workers in Tel Aviv for the World Health Organization (WHO)

Video 48 collective, that produces documentaries on the social situation in Israel, won a contest for short films that was initiated by the WHO in cooperation with Torino Municipality (Italy) and Rabinovitsh Fund (Israel). Video 48 was one of the two productions that were selected out of 12. The film that will be produced for the UN body, deals with health and environmental issues and will show the inhuman situation that Palestinian workers are undergoing because of Israel's policy of closure.

WAC has begun a program to defend Palestinian undocumented workers. (Their situation was described in our previous special report – Sep 2005).

-Two of the documentary films produce by Video 48 group dealt with WAC's work. To read more on the films and Video 48 group and to purchase the films see:

A Job to Win - http://www.hanitzotz.com/video48/film%20workers.htm

Breaking Walls - http://www.hanitzotz.com/video48/breaking-walls.htm

Breaking Walls has recently won the award for Integral Realization in the Granada Film Festival 2005

5. WAC begins a campaign against Me’halev – Welfare to Work (Wisconsin) - plan

Two months after the beginning of the implementation of Me’halev – Wisconsin Plan, the basic features of the program begin to be revealed. WAC was in a position to follow the implementation of the program in three out of the four centers (Nazareth, Jerusalem and Hadera – Wadi Ara) as our offices operate in these three locations.

In early August 2005, steps were taken to implement the Wisconsin Plan in Israel – known here as Me-ha-Lev: “From the Heart.” Applied first in the American state of Wisconsin in the mid 1990’s, it was later implemented in the many US states and also in Europe and is known as Welfare to Work or Workfare program. The adoption of the plan in Israel signals a new stage in the privatization of social services, with the aim of eliminating the welfare state.

The program in Israel is run by four companies, each consisting of an Israeli firm and a foreign one that has already “done Wisconsin” in its own land. Altogether Israel has budgeted NIS 80 million ($18 million) for the first two years of the plan.

The crux of the program is this: every participating welfare recipient will be required to report and remain in the Wisconsin center between 30 and 40 hours per week, receiving counseling, training and job referrals. If he/she does not succeed in finding salaried employment, the counselor may assign him to full-time non-paid work in a community institution such as a hospital or charity. Only by doing this work will he continue to receive a welfare check (NIS 2200 per family = $488 monthly).

The full article from Challenge #93 Sep-Oct 2005. See WAC's website: http://www.workersadvicecenter.org/Sept_05/Wisconsin.htm

Our initial fears of the program were not baseless. Israel's economy does not produce today new jobs for unskilled and uneducated workers. Therefore, it is hard to see how the Me’halev – Wisconsin plan, which has no resources to create jobs or to train workers can overcome this fundamental problem.

Another important development is what seems like a new policy with regard to the Arab population participating in the program - approximately 6,000 out of 17,000.

The Arab Towns and villages, differ from Jewish centers in the fact that they lack industrial zones and job opportunities. This creates a situation were in order to work you must travel to the Jewish centers. This, in addition to the fact that Arab localities lack kindergartens and after school activities makes it difficult for Arab women to work outside the home. The need here is for a big investment in infrastructure – roads, public transportation, kindergartens, education, vocational training etc. Without taking care of these issues the prospect of getting the Arab unemployed (with much higher percentage than among Jews) to work is almost zero. Arab women, whose rate of participation in the labor market is only 17% (compared to 54% among Jewish women), face also the problem of traditionalism which does not favor the work of women outside the home or the Town.

The Me’halev program is a pilot. The companies want to succeed in order to implement the program in all of Israel. For them, the Arab clients are a “headache”. They don’t want, and were not created to deal with the deep, long term processes that are necessary in order to create facilities and change attitudes in the society. The logic of these companies is quite clear: Concentrate on those who are closer to the work places and are ready socially and psychologically to work. The danger is that even with the few jobs that were found by the companies (see article of Ha’aretz below), the Arabs will be left out once again.

WAC’s representatives are detecting a retreat from the initial attempt to put strong pressure on the Arab jobless in order to see “who will survive”. Instead, the companies are trying to “pluck out” those who are difficult to be put on a job, like women, or ailing men, and are shifting the responsibility to the Arab Municipalities. Hundred of Arabs are being sent daily to the municipalities which should in principle send them to maintenance volunteer jobs in the municipality (especially cleaning jobs). But in fact, the people come and sign and then go home. The municipality itself does not have the facilities or desire to create programs for the jobless instead of the Me’halev companies.

WAC is putting a lot of resources to follow the situation, be present with the people on the ground and appeal on individual and collective matters to the companies and the appeal mechanism. In addition WAC's Me’halev- Wisconsin team headed by Ms. Asma Agbarieh issued several updates to the press and social organizations. Asma was interviewed in Haaretz newspaper, Radio Shams, Kol Israel Radio and others. Here is one example:

6. Only 3 percent of Wisconsin plan participants found employment

By Ruth Sinai

Ha'aretz. Sep. 14.2005

In the first month since the Wisconsin welfare-to-work-plan was launched, 450 applicants were found jobs. This is some 3 percent of those who reported to pilot centers in Nazareth, Hadera, Jerusalem, Ashkelon and Sderot.
Some 680 jobless, nearly 5 percent of all applicants, were sent to do volunteer work in order to acquire needed work skills or because no paying jobs were found for them.

These figures were announced yesterday by project director Dorit Novek, who expressed satisfaction at the operation of the employment centers and the 82-percent attendance rate. Of the 18,500 guaranteed income recipients who were summoned to the centers, 14,160 showed up.
Some 400 of those who showed up refused to cooperate with the plan and were designated "noncompliant." That means they will not be receiving their benefit allowance for August, to be disbursed on September 14. Some rejected jobs offered to them, others were unjustifiably absent from job centers or assigned workshops, and some announced they were quitting the program.

These people can appeal to two independent appellate committees set up alongside the program.
Eighteen percent of those summoned failed to appear, so they will not be receiving the August allowance either. Some of these people may appear once they see their allotment has not arrived, but the rest are likely to be those who were forced to choose between the Wisconsin Plan and a job they held while fraudulently receiving the guaranteed income allowance. Until now, they could get away with working while receiving an allowance because they had to report to the employment center just once a week. The Wisconsin Plan requires them to spend 30-40 hours a week at work, paid or volunteer, or in workshops.
According to Novek, on average, participants had not worked for the past three years. Most of those who have been sent to work through the program are employed in minimum-wage jobs as clerks, security guards, cleaning and catering staff, and hotel workers.
The community service, as the volunteer work is termed, includes painting schools and public institutions, assisting the elderly, cleaning up beaches, etc. About a thousand participants have received financial aid to subsidize daycare for their children so they can take part in the plan.

The Workers Advice Center, an organization helping the unemployed in the Arab sector, announced yesterday that it would circulate a petition among Wisconsin participants with a list of demands, including worthwhile jobs that pay at least NIS 4,000 a month, dispensations or exemptions from the plan for the chronically ill and single mothers, and vocational training. WAC intends to broaden the petition to include other groups that represent Jewish participants in the plan.
"The Wisconsin Plan does not solve the problem of poverty and unemployment. Its purpose is to help the government get rid of the unemployed as part of the elimination of the welfare state," said Asma Agbarieh, spokeswoman for the organization's workers' council.
According to Agbarieh, the jobs assigned to program participants are almost invariably in cleaning, for minimum monthly wages of NIS 3,335 - a sum that does not permit them to rise above the poverty line. In one case, she said, a female participant was offered a salary of NIS 1,500. The woman herself said she was assigned a telemarketing job, and would get a commission bumping her up to the minimum-wage level only after selling NIS 12,000 worth of products per month.
The acting finance minister, Ehud Olmert, met with Arab MKs yesterday to hear their complaints about the Wisconsin program and to start a dialogue with them.
Meanwhile, program directors have requested information on people whom doctors at the centers ruled unable to work, so they can verify each case and decide on a course of action.

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We suggest to all our readers to go to Challenge Magazine site www.hanitzotz.com/challenge where you could find a lot of related information. For a one time hard copy of Challenge Magazine contact Editor: Roni Ben Efrat at oda@netvision.net.il

2. WAC's delegation mourns the victims of the Jewish terrorist in Shefam'r

3. WAC takes active role in Barcelona's FSMed