Union activists slam environment conference for inviting Israelis
A Jordanian union has attacked the Friends of the Earth Middle East ( FoEME) for inviting Israelis to join in a conference in Amman about the future of the Jordan River.
The union activists have slammed members of their own union, the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA), for organizing a conference which they said was a ‘cover’ for boosting ties between Jordan and Israel.
The Engineers Association is one of the most outspoken unions in the region opposed to any recognition of Israel. They have in the past taken away union membership cards from Jordanians who are seen to fraternize with Israelis.
Professional unions in Jordan and Egypt are the leading voices against normalization with Israel. This is depiste the fact both countries decades ago signed peace treaties with Israel.
Many have union rules and by-laws which bar members from visiting Israel or meeting with Israelis in third countries. In Jordan, as in some other Middle East countries, you cannot operate in your profession if you do not have a financial union member.
The Professional Associations’ Anti-Normalisation Committee on Monday criticised the “Bringing the Jordan River Back to Life: Strategies for Rehabilitation Conference”, which opened on Monday ( May 3).
“The Friends of the Earth holds activities on the pretext that it wants to save the Jordan River and the environment in the Jordan Valley, but in truth, these activities are meant to boost ties with Israel,” the President of the union’s Anti- Normalitation Committee, Badi Rafaya, told The Jordan Times.
He warned the public against taking part in such “dubious” activities, noting that the organisation cooperates with Israel in an Eco-Peace initiative titled “Good Water Neighbours”.
“How dare they call Israel a ‘good neighbour’ after they killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and occupied Palestine? This is a Zionist gang that needs to be condemned for its actions, not rewarded,” he added.
But FoEME officials hit back at Rafaya, saying they are working to save the environment and provide Jordan with badly needed potable water, not boost ties with Israel.
“This is not a normalisation project. Yes we have a political problem with Israel, but does that mean we turn our back and allow them to siphon off our own water?” asked FoEME Vice President Abdul Rahman Sultan.
Sultan said his organisation is doing its best to save the Jordan River, which is drying up in large part due to Israel diverting water for industrial uses.
“We are a country that suffers from a shortage of water and we need every drop possible. We cannot allow Israel to steal our water just because we do not want to talk to them,” he told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the conference urging the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) to offer its services to solve the Kingdom’s chronic water problems.
FoEME President Munqeth Mehyar said the Professional Associations’ claims were unjustified.
“I can only say working for the welfare and good of the people by securing a clean, sustainable environment is the highest level of patriotism. For nature does not wait for political solutions,” said Mehyar in a speech at the conference.
“People’s right to water cannot wait and cannot be achieved by condemning, boycotting and screaming from a distance behind desks in air-conditioned offices,” said Mehyar, who is an active member of the JEA.
According to JEA bylaws, members who make contact with Israeli officials are subject to having their memberships revoked, as is true of all professional associations in Jordan.