Friday, May 1st, 17.00
Al-Qasemi Academi, Baqa Al-Garbia
The day will include a speakers’ panel, and theatre and music performances by Arab and Jewish artists. The event is sponsored by our host, Al-Qasemi Academy, and by the Baqa Al-Gharbia municipality.
Speakers:
* Mrs. Haala Khabaib – Al-Qasemi College representative * Mursi Abu-Mokh –Baqa Al-Gharbia mayor * Assaf Adiv – WAC-MAAN National Director * Hatem Abu-Ziadeh chairperson of the Workers’ Committee, Tzarfati Garage * Ruti Amanu – Workers Committee Beit Bialik * Asma Aghbaria-Zahalka – WAC-MAAN leader * Wafiq Abu Al-Hija –Workers Committee at McDonald’s Company * Khen Shapirah – artist and member of Bezalel Academy lecturers’ committee * Yasser Abu-Arisha – Workers’ Committee, Leumi Card Company * Orit Gury – Workers Committee at Rosh HaAy’in Music Centre * Rania Saleh – WAC-MAAN activist , Jerusalem branch .
The panel will be chaired by WafahTiara and Michal Schwartz of WAC-MAAN’s Women’s Project
Performances: * Hila Lahav, Tal Bryte, Gonen Wiesel, Yishai Ben Adar – Music company; Mahmud Jabarin – Um Al-Fahem \ Baqa Al- Gharbia Theatre Group
We have chosen to hold this year’s Mayday rally in the Arab town of Baqa Al-Gharbia to highlight the fact that Arab society in Israel suffers the highest levels of poverty and unemployment (especially among women), with a record number of minimum wage earners.
The past year has seen WAC-MAAN leading a difficult struggle with employers in the West Bank industrial zone of Maale-Adumim, where thousands of Palestinian worker are being exploited; promoting the rights of thousands of unemployed in East Jerusalem; being confirmed, after a long legal struggle, as the representative union at Minshar School; soon reaching a collective agreement with the Rosh-Haayin municipality in relation to its music teachers; and holding conferences about women and work, as well as on-the-job safety within the construction industry.
The Israeli rightwing government dictates the political agenda, inciting hatred and distrust between Jews and Arabs. The government supports an expansion of settlements in the Occupied Territories and the destruction of Arab houses. The result is violent, bullying behaviour such as that of active fascist groups (like Price Tag and Lehava) who committed crimes against Palestinians, including the lynching of Muhammad Abu Khdeir and the burning of mosques and bilingual schools.
In the face of this status quo, WAC-MAAN organises Arab and Jewish workers in a unified struggle for fair employment that will lead to economic stability, freedom from political oppression and full equality.
WAC-MAAN is heartened and inspired by new democratic forces in our region and beyond, which in the past few years have taken to the streets to demand freedom and social justice. In particular, it identifies with and supports the struggle of Arab nations for democracy. First among these are the Syrian people, who fight against Assad’s murderous dictatorship, as well as destructive fundamentalist forces, and who continue to believe in freedom.
For details: Nir Nader 050-6839443
Translation – Yaara Lahav
