He emphasized that the current crisis did not begin with the closure imposed in October 2023, but rather reflects structural problems that have accumulated over decades, during which no stable and dignified system was developed to regulate the employment of large numbers of Palestinian workers in Israel.
Mr. Kleibo, who served for nearly two decades as the Representative of the International Labour Organization in the Palestinian territories and previously held a senior position at the United Nations Development Programme, noted that the issue of Palestinian labour has often been treated by both Israeli and Palestinian actors as a practical arrangement that served mutual economic needs, without establishing a clear and binding legal framework to guarantee workers’ rights and provide long-term stability for their livelihoods. As a result, decisions affecting workers have frequently been shaped by political considerations, leaving workers themselves to bear the consequences.
He further pointed out that the Palestinian labour market has become heavily dependent on the Israeli economy. On the eve of the war, approximately 200,000 workers from the West Bank were employed in Israel, in addition to around 20,000 workers from Gaza, creating a sense of relative stability for tens of thousands of Palestinian households. However, the collapse of this arrangement following the complete closure imposed after 7 October 2023 has resulted in deep economic, social, and psychological consequences affecting more than one million people who depend directly or indirectly on these sources of income.
Mr. Kleibo stressed that responsibility for the complexity of this issue cannot be attributed to a single party. Israeli occupation policies—including restrictions, closures, and the absence of a stable legal framework—bear a significant share of responsibility, as they severely constrain the capacity of the Palestinian economy to develop and generate sufficient employment opportunities. At the same time, the Palestinian side, represented by the tripartite partners of production—the government, workers’ representatives, and employers’ organizations—has also failed to establish a consistent and effective framework for structured social dialogue on labour issues. The ongoing Palestinian political division has further weakened the ability to formulate coherent and stable labour policies.
He therefore called for the development of clear legal and institutional arrangements between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority to allow for the gradual and regulated return of Palestinian workers to their workplaces in Israel, based on legal frameworks and in cooperation with the International Labour Organization. Such arrangements could include the establishment of a joint institutional mechanism or a dedicated legal framework responsible for managing permits, ensuring oversight, and protecting workers from exploitation.
Mr. Kleibo also addressed recent developments related to attempts to recruit foreign labour, particularly from Asian countries, as a replacement for Palestinian workers. He warned that such a policy may carry long-term implications for both the Israeli and Palestinian economies, not only economically but also socially and psychologically, given the decades-long labour interdependence between the two sides. Replacing Palestinian workers on a large scale, he noted, could create new distortions in labour markets and deepen existing social and economic crises.
He further cautioned about the increasing risks faced by Palestinian workers currently employed in Israeli settlements, especially under the prevailing security conditions. Many of these workers operate in environments characterized by limited legal protection, insufficient oversight of labour conditions, and heightened humanitarian and security risks.
Mr. Kleibo emphasized that while the labour issue is deeply intertwined with political realities, it must also be addressed through professional and humanitarian approaches that guarantee decent working conditions and legal protections for workers.
He also expressed regret that international efforts, including the annual reports issued by the International Labour Organization on the situation of Palestinian workers, have not yet resulted in tangible improvements in their conditions, particularly at a time when workers are facing one of the most difficult periods due to the war and related political considerations.
Finally, Mr. Kleibo noted that the vast majority of Palestinian workers seek above all dignified employment and the ability to provide for their families with dignity, rather than confrontation. He also warned about the potential emergence of informal brokerage networks and exploitation schemes on both sides of the border that may profit from the current disorder, emphasizing that transparent and legally regulated labour arrangements ultimately serve the interests of workers while also responding to broader economic and security needs.
