Statement of solidarity from the Histadrut

The Histadrut was not informed in advance of the planned visit by the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) delegation, and we were surprised to learn from social media that the delegation was denied entry at the Israeli border.

Over the past two years, Israeli workers and their representative unions have faced profound economic, social, and security challenges. During this period, we did not see sustained engagement or meaningful solidarity from BWI toward Israeli workers, their unions, or the trade-union values we are committed to upholding.

We believe that a global trade union federation should provide a broad umbrella of solidarity — a space where workers from all walks of life and circumstances can come together, engage, and build mutual understanding, even amid complex political realities.

It is our understanding that the delegation’s visit should have been coordinated in advance, as with any international mission, to ensure that dialogue and engagement could proceed in an orderly, constructive manner.

The Histadrut remains firmly committed to the principles of workers’ rights, freedom of association, and responsible international engagement. We look forward to welcoming a BWI delegation led by the Secretary General.