Back when the labour socialists were running the government instead of just the labour unions, Histadrut was on strike pretty much all the time. Since they lost control of the government, it’s a lot harder to find excuses.
Histadrut Labor Federation chief Arnon Bar-David declared a general strike on Sunday afternoon over the government’s failure to secure the release of hostages held in Gazoo...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about
oppressionand
disproportionate response...
. He stated that "a deal is more important than anything else," in light of mounting outrage over the killing of six captives by Hamas
..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,...During a presser in Tel Aviv, Bar-David said that the action — the union’s first foray into politics since October 7 — will start at 6 a.m. and is currently planned as a one-day strike, with decisions beyond Monday to be made later. (It was also announced that Ben Gurion Airport would be shut down at 8 a.m., with all incoming and outgoing flights canceled, but reports later Sunday indicated the airport could function as usual, and passengers were advised to check for updated information.)
"It is impossible to stand idly by in the face of the cries of our children who are being murdered in the tunnels in Gaza. It is unacceptable," he declared after meeting with representatives of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum — which earlier Sunday called on the public "to join a massive demonstration, demanding a complete shutdown of the country" and appealed to the powerful Histadrut to stage a mass strike.
The call angered the government, with far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich branding the strike illegal and saying that the union was playing into the hands of Hamas. Several cities and municipalities announced they would not take part.
The Histadrut’s call was taken up by the Israel Business Forum, which represents most private-sector workers from 200 of the country’s largest companies, as well as Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.
Their demand for a strike came amid widespread anger over the slaying in captivity of six Israeli hostages whose bodies were recovered over the weekend, with many blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to agree to a deal with Hamas to secure their release.
Bar-David’s call for a nationwide strike was welcomed by representatives of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which is planning a series of demonstrations calling for a deal and tweeted that "Israel’s social, financial, and municipality leadership voices the people’s demand: Seal the deal now!"
It was also welcomed by Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who stated that "no Israeli can stand by while the country is falling apart," and Israel Bar Association (IBA) chief Amit Becher, who called on "all lawyers to go on strike tomorrow."
In line with the general strike called by the Histadrut, the Teacher’s Union, a branch of the Histadrut, announced Sunday that all K-12 schools in Israel would be open only until 11:45 a.m. on Monday, except schools for special needs students. A similar notification, sent by the union’s early childhood director, said that all kindergartens would be completely closed Monday, except for special needs centers.
A high-school teachers’ strike, which began on Sunday, not connected to the national labor stoppage, will continue on Monday, the Secondary Schools Teachers Association announced in an earlier statement.
For the time that the schools remain shuttered, Israel’s research universities will also "join the economic shutdown," though some scheduled exams will still be held, depending on the university, the Association of University Heads said in a statement.
"The university heads repeat their call to the government of Israel to make freeing the hostages the highest national mission," the association said.
Several municipalities and local councils announced work stoppages tomorrow, including Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Hod Hasharon, and Herzliya.
"I call on all mayors in the country to join our measure. The return of the hostages is a national mission that needs to be carried out immediately," Givatayim Mayor Ran Kunik said in a statement announcing that the city’s civil servants instead will demonstrate together with hostage families to urge the government to reach a deal to release captives held in Gaza.
"Tomorrow, beginning in the morning until midday, there will be no reception of the public [at our offices] and we will allow all employees to go out and support the families’ struggle," Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai tweeted on Sunday, even before Bar-David’s announcement.
Despite this, numerous municipalities have stated that they will not take part in the general strike.
Israel Gantz, the head of the West Bank’s Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, said that his employees would "not take part in an illegal strike that weakens the country" while the Safed city hall argued that it was irresponsible to halt municipal services during wartime.
In court rulings, "it was specifically established that a workers’ committee does not have the right to shut down the economy due to a political debate in protest of political and security issues. With all due respect, no one is above the law," stated Samaria Regional Council chief Yossi Dagan.
"We will not take part in the Histadrut’s political strike," he said.
According to Hebrew media, other cities not taking part include Jerusalem, Ashdod, Bnei Brak, Netanya, Ramle, Dimona, Holon, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Gat, Arad, Beit Shemesh, the northern town of Katzrin, the Merom HaGalil Regional Council and the settlements of Efrat and Ma’ale Adumim.
In addition, the National Committee for Heads of Arab Local Authorities in Israel has said it will not support the strike.
The White Coats — Healthcare Professionals for Democracy called on doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers from all fields to join the planned strikes tomorrow to demand the return of hostage and in support of their families.
FULFILLING SINWAR’S DREAM
Addressing news hounds during a presser in Jerusalem, Smotrich slammed Bar-David’s call for a national strike on Monday, arguing that rather than lending a hand to the Israeli economy during wartime, the union chief was "actually fulfilling [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar’s dream, and instead of representing the Israeli workers, he chooses to represent the interests of Hamas."
Smotrich said that he instructed Finance Ministry officials not to pay anybody who strikes on Monday and said that he was "happy to see that there are local authorities who do not align themselves with the decision of the chairman of the Histadrut."
"I call on the workers to come to work tomorrow and not lend a hand to a shutdown that harms the State of Israel during wartime," Smotrich continued, arguing that those in favor of the strike wanted to see Israel "surrender... [and] immerse yourself in illusions about arrangements that are not worth the paper they are written on."
"If, God forbid, we listen to these voices and stop in the middle it will be a disaster," he stated — contending that for the past 30 years, since the Oslo Accords, "we surrendered and fled, gathered behind walls and fences. We asked for artificial peace and tranquility in the present and mortgaged the future for it."
"We brought turbans here and armed them, we released turbans and gave them a second chance to attack us. We destroyed settlements, surrendered territories, neutered the land forces and allowed terrorist monsters to develop under our noses and next to our fences and settlements. Now is the time for correction," he stated.
"This time, we can and must eliminate terrorism, to prove to ourselves and the world that there is a military solution to terrorism, that it can be destroyed with determination and persistence."
Vendetta!
Likud MK Ariel Kallner struck a similar note, tweeting that "Bar-David kidnapped the workers and endangers the kidnapped" and that his "criminal strike...is a gift to Sinwar and a danger to the State of Israel."
Related:
Histadrut: 2024-04-20 Hostage families block Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway; CIA chief blames Hamas for deadlock
Histadrut: 2024-04-07 Car rams protesters, wounding 5, as large crowds demand hostage deal in Tel Aviv
Histadrut: 2024-03-21 Eilat Port to lay off half its staff due to Houthi attacks stymieing shipping trade
Histadrut: 2024-04-20 Hostage families block Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway; CIA chief blames Hamas for deadlock
Histadrut: 2024-04-07 Car rams protesters, wounding 5, as large crowds demand hostage deal in Tel Aviv
Histadrut: 2024-03-21 Eilat Port to lay off half its staff due to Houthi attacks stymieing shipping trade
Related:
Tikva Forum: 2024-04-28 Hamas airs clip of 2 hostages, prompting more anti-gov't protests as FM says Israel would delay Rafah op for a deal
Tikva Forum: 2024-02-04 Latest hostage rally demanding deal with Hamas takes on stronger political tones
Tikva Forum: 2024-01-21 An ideological minority of parents of hostages held by Hamas oppose negotiations
GvuraTikva Forum: 2024-04-28 Hamas airs clip of 2 hostages, prompting more anti-gov't protests as FM says Israel would delay Rafah op for a deal
Tikva Forum: 2024-02-04 Latest hostage rally demanding deal with Hamas takes on stronger political tones
Tikva Forum: 2024-01-21 An ideological minority of parents of hostages held by Hamas oppose negotiations