The World Jewish Congress (WJC) in association with the Jewish Labor Committee (JLC) is hosting a series of gatherings that has brought together Ofer Eini, chairman of Israel's Histadrut labor federation and American union leaders.

The meetings aim to reaffirm Israel’s strong and longstanding relationship with the American Labor movement and to discuss the possibility of advancing workers’ rights in the Middle East that could emerge from the recent wave of anti-government protests across the region.

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Eini’s visit underlines the close relationship between the Histadrut and the American Labor movement and comes at a time when civil society groups in other parts of the world areworking to delegitimize Israel through boycotts and divestment campaigns.

“We are proud to spearhead this effort together with the JLC. Israel is the only free and democratic state that protects the rights of its workers in the Middle East. Helping affirm the strong relationship between the Histadrut and US labor and civil society groups while combating the growing assault against Israel via boycotts, divestment and sanctions in other parts of the world is a top priority for the WJC and a vital interest to the Jewish people”, said Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress.

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During meetings in New York, Eini underscored the progressive measures that the Histadrut has taken to position Israel as one of the fastest growing Western economies in the world, while protecting