Illustrative — In this April 6, 2013 photo, a Palestinian programmer attends a workshop in the West Bank city of Ramallah (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Obviously, the biggest news of the week is the passing of Israel’s budget. The first since 2018. However, some other interesting news has come to light and has been brought to ARZA by the Victorian Progressive Movement’s Shaliach Sefi Shalam.
As Sefi wrote to me: The Israeli Government has agreed with the Palestinian Authority to run a pilot program to allow 500 Palestinians to start working for Israeli high-tech companies.
As Sefi says, it’s a classic win-win solution. Palestinian graduates are struggling to find high-quality employment and this scheme will guarantee them at least 150% of the Israeli average salary. They will also gain critical experience which they will be able to use to develop a Palestinian high-tech sector in the future.
Israel has much to gain from this program, as its high-tech sector is significantly understaffed, Sefi explained. It is also better than the current situation whereby these jobs are being outsourced to Eastern Europe.
Added to this, it means that many Palestinians will receive new work permits for Israeli factories and other industries to add to the thousands employed in agriculture and construction.
Our thanks to Sefi Shalam.
Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President