The Palestinian Contractors Union said it is following with astonishment and rejection the allegations recently circulated in some media outlets and social media platforms alleging the involvement of some Palestinian contracting companies in implementing projects within settlements, whether roads, buildings, or other works.
In a statement, the union categorically denied these allegations, clearly and decisively affirming that no Palestinian company registered with the Palestinian Contractors Union and duly accredited by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing is involved in any way in implementing projects within Israeli settlements, which, according to international law and the position of the Palestinian National Authority, are illegal entities established on occupied Palestinian land.
Last I checked, about 20,000 Palestinians were working in settlements, mostly in construction, although I don't know how many still do after October 7.
The 2024
Palestinian Labor Force Survey for 2024 doesn't distinguish between workers in Green Line Israel and in the settlements, but all of them now make exactly double the wages of Palestinians who don't work in Israel and the settlements. (Google translated chart)
The employers in Israel don't deal directly with the workers, they go through some sort of broker, almost certainly a Palestinian (maybe indirectly.) Which makes him a ...contractor.
Now it is probable that these brokers are not registered with the union for the Israeli jobs and that they have a different company structure if they also do work in the Palestinian territories.
But let's not kid ourselves. None of the middlemen are turning down jobs in Israel or the settlements if the jobs are there. And they are happily getting a cut.
Including, almost certainly, the union leaders who drafted this statement.