The recent decision by Public Services International (PSI), one of the global union federations, to support boycotts, divestments and sanctions, should not blind us to the generally positive role played by global unions in the region.

This week, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) concluded a three-day training in safety which was organised jointly with the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) and with the support of UNESCO Office in Ramallah. The workshop which took place in Jenin from 2 - 4 December brought together seven female and eight male journalists from Nablus, Jenin, Qalqilya and Tulkarem in the northern West Bank.

The IFJ in the past has had a rocky relationship with its Israeli affiliates, but holding this sort of workshop is infinitely more constructive and contributes far more to genuine peace and reconciliation — by helping to build up civil society in Palestine — than all the ranting about “Israeli apartheid” coming out of the PSI congress in Durban.

Full details about the IFJ training are here.