The International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Federation of Israel Journalists (NFIJ)
have reached an agreement to end a split between the two groups.
An agreement on a package of
measures to improve relations, including a proposal to end a dispute over
non-payment of fees to the international, was reached in talks in Tel Aviv on
Monday evening.
"A damaging and difficult
period is behind us," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Both sides are
committed to work together to bring Israeli journalists back into the centre of
IFJ work."
The meeting was attended by
leaders of two major journalists' unions in Europe,
including Franco Siddi, General Secretary of the Federazione Nazionale Della
Stampa Italiana, who with the support of the Deutscher Journalisten Verband
called for mediation between the two sides after the NFIJ was expelled by the
IFJ in June.
"The atmosphere was frank and
honest but always in the best spirit of unionism," said White. "We are agreed
to put the bickering of the past months behind us and start a new phase of
co-operation."
Among the proposals that will
be put before IFJ leaders for endorsement by the Federation's Executive
Committee which meets in London
later this month are:
·
An annual meeting between IFJ and NFIJ leaders to
review and monitor relations;
·
An invitation to Israeli journalists to join a meeting
of Mediterranean journalists' unions to be held in Sardinia
next year;
·
Organisation of a seminar in Israel to
discuss the IFJ's Ethical Journalism Initiative, the global campaign for
standards in media;
·
Fresh engagement of Israeli journalists in the
industrial work of the IFJ's European section, the European Federation of
Journalists;
·
Organisation of a preparatory meeting with the support
of the Deutscher Journalisten Verband to encourage a new dialogue between Israeli
and Palestinian affiliates of the IFJ
"We have an agreement which
if it holds will further strengthen IFJ work and which can benefit the whole
community of journalists both inside Israel and around the region," said White.
"We are all grateful to our Italian and German colleagues for their goodwill
and help. It gives real meaning to notion of union solidarity."
For more
information contact the IFJ at
+32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 123 countries worldwide
