During my gap year in Israel from August '22-May '23, I took upon a reporting journalism internship with one of the only English-speaking daily news podcasts. I gathered information every morning on the main events throughout Israel and wrote multiple reports on them, which my boss would then read on the podcast. As my final 'project' for this internship, my boss had me go out to the port of Old Jaffa to attend an 'International Worker's Day' protest and interview rally-goers, onlooking citizens, and angry locals. The following is that report, which was the main piece of that day's podcast.
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This past Monday marked the first day of May, which is known in Israel and in most countries around the world as International Workers’ Day, or Labor Day. While the American Federation of Labor helped initially choose May 1st as the date for this holiday, the US and Canada are actually among few nations that celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September.
In the rest of the world, every year on May 1st, people take to streets and parks in their cities to march in celebration of both workers, the working class, and sometimes even protest how the working class are treated within their communities. Yesterday, on May 1st in Israel, Jews and Arabs stood shoulder to shoulder to discuss the labor issues of the day as well as dive into political challenges that are currently dividing the country, including the number 1 contention in Israel today – the supreme court overhaul working through the government.
Often referred to as “May Day” in popular culture, the holiday was conceived after the Marxist International Socialist Congress (MISC) met in Paris in early 1889 and adopted a resolution for a “great international demonstration” in favor of the working class. Ever since Israel’s conception seventy-five years ago, it has participated in this international expression. Today Israel is booming with freedom-minded young activists and Israel’s yearly May Day protests not only promoted support of the working class, but it expanded into other issues specific to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Monday’s annual protest began in Hashaon Square, in the heart of Jaffa, as speakers and Arab community leaders gave their hearts to all the attendees. There was a sea of Palestinian and communist flags waving as some protesters created a rhythm for the chants using their drum sets.
The protest gained more participants by the minute with onlookers pouring onto the sidewalks, and journalists documenting the events pulling aside passionate protesters.
After around 45 minutes of initial speeches and chants, the group moved their demonstration from Jaffa into the bustling city of Tel Aviv as the sun set.
We caught up with some demonstrators who were out showing their support for the holiday, including Roman, a Ukrainian-born man from Bat Yam who expressed major disdain with how Arabs and Muslims have recently been treated in Israel.
“They were disturbing Al-Aqsa in the peak of Ramadan, Al-Aqsa is the most sacred place for the Muslims in Israel-Palestine, and police just beat people. Since the beginning of this government, it’s 1 November, was killed more than 100 Palestinians in the West Bank, and this government just makes for this discrimination, for ethnic cleansing of the West Bank territories, and for the colonialist settlers.
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We also spoke with Ruth, a longtime Jaffa local, who expressed her concern toward housing rights for Arabs and the recent gentrification in their communities.
“The Arab community is being threatened by gentrification and by the fact that they had homes that were given to them by the Israeli government, I think it was the end of the war of Independence, because there were Arabs who were thrown out and Arabs who stayed here and there's a whole process of redividing the housing and now they're trying to push them out, so there is more gentrification here.” 1:32-2:06
“Jaffa without Arabs is not Jaffa. Not only that, Arab people have lived here for years and basically have the right to continue to live here safely.” 2:15-2:35
Protesters got their message around much of Jaffa and Tel Aviv, as they marched for miles through landmarks of the lively city, blocking streets and holding up traffic. At one point, an Israeli man entered the middle of the march and took a Palestinian flag from the hands of a demonstrator. Immediately, other demonstrators rushed toward him and tried to pull the flag back from his hands. At the end of the day, protesters say they hope to achieve better treatment of the Arabs population in Israel. Pictures and videos from this year’s International Day of Workers’ Solidarity protest can be seen on the Israel Daily News Podcast social media pages. Thank you to Dan Jaime for being on the ground and covering this event.