A recent report in the Jewish Chronicle stated that a Palestinian General
Federation of Trade Unions had to a visiting delegation from the UK
Trade Union Friends of Israe that the PGFTU did not see BDS as a priority.
The PGFTU has responded to this with by reaffriming unequivocal support
for BDS.

The Palestinian Boycott National Committee has issued a statement of
clarification

our Federation unambiguously states its principled and committed
position for the boycott of Israel in all international forums, and
appreciates all international forces, institutions and trade unions
that stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and adopt this
position. PGFTU and its member trade unions reiterates that is has
been and will always be a key and authentic part of the Palestinian
national coalition for the boycott [the BDS National Committee, BNC]
and confirms the necessity of supporting the national Palestinian
production and of building an [independent] economy free from economic
dependency.

Read the full
PGFTU statement

The Palestinian Boycott National Committee issued a statement in response.

The Palestinian BDS National Committee, BNC, warmly welcomes the
statement issued on 25 November 2009 by the Palestine General Federation
of Trade Unions (PGFTU) — signed by its Secretary General, Mr. Shaher
Sa’ad, and its Executive Committee, and endorsed by all the main Palestinian
trade union blocs that are represented in the Federation. In particular,
the BNC welcomes PGFTU’s affirmation of its “principled and committed
position for the boycott of Israel” and its praise of international
trade unions and other civil society organizations that stand in solidarity
with Palestinian rights and adopt the boycott against Israel.

We are further encouraged by PGFTU’s commitment to remaining a “key
and authentic component” of the large civil society coalition
that leads the global BDS movement, the BNC.

Read the full BNC
statement