The Debate Resurfaces: The Proposal to Separate Commercial and Industrial Chambers Returns to the Fore

SadaNews - The old debate over the proposal to separate the commercial chambers from the industrial ones in Palestine has resurfaced, amidst a clear division of opinions and stances within the private sector and unions. Some consider these attempts an organizational step, while others view it as a move to "fragment" the Palestinian economy, which is facing consecutive blows.

Nearly a year ago, the first signs of the proposal to separate the commercial from the industrial chambers emerged, supported by Palestinian businessmen. This resulted in rejecting reactions and discontented stances, leading to a retraction of the decision and the end of the debate in late September of last year, according to Samih Al-Masri, head of the Nablus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a previous interview with SadaNews.

At that time, he said, "Attempts by some businessmen to separate the commercial chamber from the industrial one have not succeeded, adding that things are on the path to resolution," stressing that the dialogue with the Cabinet and official bodies was constructive and resulted in initial agreements against this direction. However, the issue has been raised again and has not been resolved to this moment.

Informed sources told SadaNews that a presidential decision has been issued regarding the separation, although it is not confirmed as of now, which has raised questions about the seriousness of the decision and whether it is merely a "modification of names" or a precursor to a subsequent actual separation.

According to what SadaNews learned, emergency meetings were held today, with representatives from the Union of Commercial and Industrial Chambers and others from the General Union of Palestinian Industries, to discuss the implications of what is happening and examine expected official positions and steps. The meetings included an actual discussion on how to reach serious understandings and possibly arrive at a common position.

It is worth noting that the number of commercial chambers affiliated with the Union of Commercial and Industrial Chambers in Palestine is 18 chambers, including 13 in the West Bank and 5 in the Gaza Strip, while the estimated number of union members is around 60,000, including members and establishments of various types.

According to the law of the General Union of Commercial and Industrial Chambers, elections for the chambers are held every four years consecutively.

The elections were first conducted between the two parts of the homeland on December 1, 2022, culminating with the election of the union president in March 2023, which took place in the chambers of the governorates: Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Bethlehem, Tubas, Salfit, Gaza, Tulkarm, South Hebron, Hebron, North Hebron, and Nablus, and by acclamation in the chambers of the governorates: Jerusalem, Deir al-Balah, Rafah, Khan Yunis, North Gaza, Jenin, Qalqilya, and Ramallah and Al-Bireh.