New york: Global trade federations on Monday urged all member states of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to recognize the State of Palestine.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, on the eve of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, the undersigned global unions, representing over 200 million workers worldwide through the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Global Union Federations (GUFs), and the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), expressed full support for the growing commitment of governments to recognize the State of Palestine. The federations emphasized the importance of this step towards achieving a democratic and sovereign Palestine, living in peace alongside a secure Israel.
The global trade federations called on all countries to take this essential step towards a just and lasting peace. They asserted that recognition of the State of Palestine must not be delayed until the end of negotiations but should be seen as a fundamental component of a lasting peace. They commended the 147 of the 193 United Nations member states that have already recognized Palestine and praised those governments preparing to advance recognition during the 2025 UN General Assembly.
The federations highlighted that recognition affirms the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, strengthens international law, and facilitates genuine negotiations between two equal parties. They stressed that recognition is also a step towards addressing the power imbalance that prolongs the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, contributing to instability.
The statement emphasized that recognition would send a strong signal to the international community that the deferral of Palestinian rights would no longer be accepted. It is viewed as the foundation for a real peace process. The federations urged all governments to commit to this step at the United Nations, indicating that recognition is a tangible expression of the international community's commitment to upholding human rights, ensuring compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, and advancing the path to a free, independent, and viable Palestine.
The signatories included Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation; Atle H¸ie, General Secretary of IndustriALL Global Union; and Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, along with representatives from various trade unions, including those in education, transportation, construction, public services, building and wood workers, and the UNI Global Union.
Meanwhile, Shaher Saad, the Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Union, welcomed this position and regarded international action to halt the Israeli aggression and declare the independence of the State of Palestine as a pressing necessity.
