Head of Federation of Industries accuses parties of obstructing publication of law separating powers of chambers of commerce from industry

Hebron – Ma'an – At a time when calls to support national industry and strengthen its independence are growing, the head of the General Federation of Palestinian Industries, Nassar Nassar, has sharply criticized what he described as “influential” parties in the state, accusing them of obstructing the publication of a decree separating the powers of the chambers of commerce from industry, despite its approval some time ago.

Nassar said, “There are parties in the ‘deep state’ working to delay the publication of the law, and there are some who benefit from its non-publication. The government must publish the decree-law because it is its responsibility, and delaying its publication does more harm than good.”

Nassar appealed to the president to intervene and put an end to this issue, stressing that continuing to delay the publication of the law “threatens civil peace and harms the future of the national economy,” emphasizing that national industry is the cornerstone of economic and social stability in Palestine.

For his part, Sheikh Nafez Al-Ja'bari, a member of the Tribal Committee in Palestine, renewed his call for the decree-law to be published in the official gazette without delay, explaining that its implementation would protect civil peace and enhance social stability.

Al-Ja'bari said, “I was asked previously about this decision, and my answer was clear: Yes, we are in favor of separating the powers of the chambers of commerce from industry, because national factories absorb the workforce and alleviate unemployment, poverty, and social tensions.”

For his part, the head of the Presidential Committee for Civil Peace and Fatah leader, Lavi Ghaith, stressed the importance of speeding up the implementation of the decision by law, considering that a strong economy is the foundation of an independent Palestinian state.

Ghaith said, “We do not want a poor state; we want an economically strong state. This can only be achieved by supporting national industry and promoting local production capable of building an independent and sustainable economy, especially with the increasing number of countries that have recognized the State of Palestine.”

In a related context, the General Federation of Palestinian Industries conducted an extensive field tour of a number of factories and industrial facilities in the Hebron governorate, with the participation of a number of heads of specialized federations and members of the board of directors, with the aim of reviewing the reality of industrial production and the challenges facing Palestinian factories.

The visit included a plastics manufacturing company in the Wadi al-Qaf area, where the delegation listened to an explanation of the company's successes and the difficulties it faces, chief among them high taxes, iron gates at city entrances, and the closure of the Karama crossing to the movement of goods, which hinders industrial and commercial development.

The delegation also visited a ready-made mattress factory in the town of Tarqumiya, where factory manager Khaled Zaloum explained that the facility operates without licenses but is committed to paying taxes and financial obligations to the Ministry of Finance, pointing to the strict conditions imposed by the Civil Defense Agency despite the factory's possession of an advanced firefighting network and a comprehensive general safety plan.

In this context, Mohammed Ali Ramadan, head of the Plastics Industry Union, said that the Palestinian plastics sector faces significant challenges related to high production costs, difficulties in importing raw materials, and restrictions on movement imposed at crossings, noting that these obstacles negatively affect the competitiveness of national products in local and regional markets.

Ramadan added: “Despite all the challenges, our factories have proven their ability to innovate and produce according to international quality standards. We just need a fair legal environment that supports the industry and protects it from monopoly, and clearly separates the functions of chambers of commerce and industry councils so that each sector can play its full role.”

During a visit to a shoe manufacturing company, the factory owner revealed that the occupation forces raided the facility several months ago and confiscated its documents, official papers, checks, and employment contracts, on the pretext that the factory's products are marketed through an agent in Israel, even though the trademark is officially registered with the Ministry of National Economy.

The delegation also visited a stone sawmill in the industrial zone of Hebron, where Hassan Abu Qubaitah, deputy head of the Stone and Marble Industry Union, gave a detailed explanation of the locally developed modern “Al-Rabou” water extraction project, which contributes to reducing environmental pollution and reusing water in manufacturing.

Abu Qubaitah noted that the project is a successful model for clean production and industrial waste management, pointing to future plans to use recycled Rabo material in new industries as part of the Union's vision to promote environmental and economic sustainability in Palestine.

The tour concluded with a visit to Eagleflex, a fiberglass manufacturing company, where its chairman and president of the Engineering and Metal Industries Union, Hajj Robin Al-Joulani, gave a detailed presentation on the production lines and technologies used in manufacturing.

Al-Joulani emphasized that the company is the only one in Palestine specializing in this industry and operates in accordance with the latest international standards and specifications, stressing its commitment to providing quality-assured products to the end consumer.

At the end of the tour, Nassar affirmed that the General Union of Palestinian Industries will continue its efforts to highlight the challenges facing the industrial sector and work with the government and official bodies to implement fair economic policies that encourage investment and local production.

He added that separating the powers of the chambers of commerce from industry is not merely a union demand, but a national necessity to ensure fair representation and support sustainable development, stressing that Palestinian industry is the first line of defense for civil peace and the national economy.