Palestinian Workers Banned from Jobs Since October 2023

This important report by Times of Israel journalist Nurit Yohanan sheds light on a forgotten crisis: thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank are barred from their workplaces since October 2023. Published 21 months into the Gaza war, the report—produced in collaboration with MAAN—provides a far-reaching account of these workers’ plight, while contextualizing the Palestinian economy’s heavy dependence on Israel.

This important report by Times of Israel journalist Nurit Yohanan sheds light on a forgotten crisis: thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank are barred from their workplaces since October 2023. Published 21 months into the Gaza war, the report—produced in collaboration with MAAN—provides a far-reaching account of these workers’ plight, while contextualizing the Palestinian economy’s heavy dependence on Israel.

Yohanan’s report tells heartbreaking stories of individual workers, many of whom were suddenly cut off from their sole source of livelihood. The journalist describes how the sweeping closure policy inflicted harm not only on these workers and their families, but also on the Israeli economy itself—a strategic and humanitarian failure.

One critical issue left unaddressed in the article, however, is why this significant sector of Palestinian society has no voice to advocate for its rights. Why has the Palestinian Authority remained silent? Why hasn’t it prioritized workers’ demands in its negotiations with Israel or in international forums?

מען ארגון עובדים معًا – نقابة عمالية MAAN Workers Association

Palestinian Workers Banned from Jobs Since October 2023 This important report by Times of Israel journalist Nurit Yohanan sheds light on a forgotten crisis: thousands of Palestinian workers from the…

For further insights into MAAN’s work supporting Palestinian workers, see here.

Palestinian Workers

This important report by Times of Israel journalist Nurit Yohanan sheds light on a forgotten crisis: thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank are barred from their workplaces since October 2023. Published 21 months into the Gaza war, the report-produced in collaboration with MAAN-provides a far-reaching account of these workers’ plight, while contextualizing the Palestinian economy’s heavy dependence on Israel.

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Palestinian Workers

Government Orders Hotels to Replace Palestinians with Sri Lankans

Since 2019, Akram Suleiman worked at Fattal Hotels by the Dead Sea. A native of Dahariya near Hebron, the 60-year-old father of four grown up, married children viewed his job as sacred. Managing pools and spas offered him a dignified livelihood. He proudly showcased images from the hotel life in Ein Bokek (the Dead Sea Hotels zone), including his tenure certificate and an award of excellence, alongside shared meals with colleagues.

04/09/2025

Palestinian Workers

Ministry of Tourism Urges Dead Sea Hotels to Dismiss Veteran Palestinian Workers and Replace Them with Migrant Laborers

In July of this year, Dead Sea hotels began a process aimed at replacing qualified long-time Palestinian workers with migrant laborers. According to information recently received by MAAN – Workers Association, in addition to the dozens of Palestinian workers dismissed in July from hotels owned by the Fattal Group in the Dead Sea area, the company — along with other companies in the region — intends to dismiss many more.

06/08/2025

Arab women

Solidarity Across the Hives: A Visit to the Women of the Jahalin Tribe

At the end of May, a moving solidarity event was held at Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv, where for the first time, members of six groups of “Bees for Peace” from across Israel gathered. One group, however, was absent — the women of Jahalin.

04/08/2025

The East Jerusalem Project

Proof of Residency – a Success Story from East Jerusalem

Rana, a 20-year-old woman from Jabal al-Mukabbir in East Jerusalem, is married to a Jerusalem resident. On April 26, 2024, she gave birth to her first child. As a permanent resident of Jerusalem, Rana expected to receive a birth grant and child allowance from the National Insurance Institute (NII). However, when no payment arrived, her sister advised her to contact MAAN Workers Association.

21/07/2025

The Women’s Project

Hands Dipped in Honey

“The Beduin woman is like a bee,” says Najala Suleimani, a social worker from the Zarzir Bedouin settlement in the Galilee. “All day long she walks around cleaning and at the end of the day she falls asleep half dead. Then she is asked ‘What have you done all day?’ She is just like the bee, who produces half a teaspoon of honey in a lifetime.”

13/07/2025

Palestinian Workers

With MAAN support Palestinian employees are suing Ma’ale Adumim geriatric hospital “Hod Amal” for unpaid Overtime and Pension Contributions

The first in a planned series of lawsuits was filed by workers from the rehabilitative geriatric hospital “Hod Amal” in Ma’ale Adumim who are represented by MAAN. The suit was filed by employee H.G., who has worked at the hospital for the past seven years.

27/05/2025

Palestinian Workers Banned from Jobs Since October 2023

מען ארגון עובדים معًا – نقابة عمالية MAAN Workers Association

Palestinian Workers

MORE...

Government Orders Hotels to Replace Palestinians with Sri Lankans

Ministry of Tourism Urges Dead Sea Hotels to Dismiss Veteran Palestinian Workers and Replace Them with Migrant Laborers

Solidarity Across the Hives: A Visit to the Women of the Jahalin Tribe

Hands Dipped in Honey

With MAAN support Palestinian employees are suing Ma’ale Adumim geriatric hospital “Hod Amal” for unpaid Overtime and Pension Contributions

אנא כתבו את שמכם המלא, טלפון ותיאור קצר של נושא הפנייה, ונציג\ה של מען יחזרו אליכם בהקדם האפשרי.

رجاءً اكتبوا اسمكم الكامل، الهاتف، ووصف قصير حول موضوع توجهكم، ومندوب عن نقابة معًا سيعاود الاتصال بكم لاحقًا

As an organization committed to the rights of workers without distinction of religion, race, nationality, gender, or profession - democracy is our essence. We strongly oppose the authoritarian laws that the extreme government of Netanyahu, Lapid, Bennett, and Smotrich is attempting to impose.

Without democracy, there are no workers' rights, just as a workers' organization cannot exist under dictatorship.

We invite you:

To march with us in protests and to build an alternative, democratic, Jewish-Arab professional union in Israel. Join our quiet WhatsApp group today, "Marching with us in protest."

To join MAAN and unite workers in your workplace. Read here how to join the organization.

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