General strike begins in Israel, calls for demonstrations in dozens of locations | News

The general strike called for yesterday by the largest trade union organization in Israel began at six o’clock this morning, to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to conclude a prisoner exchange deal and return the detainees in the Gaza Strip.

The strike is expected to paralyze most economic sectors in Israel, as the call by the head of the Histadrut Federation of Trade Unions, Arnon Bar-David, for a one-day general strike has received the support of major industrial companies in Israel and entrepreneurs in the high-tech sector.

The position of the union, which includes some of the most influential voices in the Israeli economy, reflects the scope of public anger over the killing of the six detainees and the Netanyahu government’s continued obstacles to reaching a swap deal.

Yesterday, Sunday, the Israeli occupation army announced the recovery of the bodies of 6 detainees after they were found inside a tunnel in the Rafah area in the southern Gaza Strip, confirming their identities, while US President Joe Biden expressed his sadness over the death of one of them (who holds American citizenship).

Haaretz reported that Ben Gurion International Airport is closed to departing aircraft due to a strike announced by the Histadrut labor union in Israel.

Tel Aviv Tribune’s Ramallah bureau chief, Walid Al-Omari, said that the strike began this morning and will continue for three hours at Ben Gurion Airport, while it will continue for the rest of the day in the remaining sectors, if the court does not decide to stop it.

Government lawsuit before the court

Al-Omari pointed out that the Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, asked the Attorney General to file a lawsuit demanding that the Supreme Court cancel the strike announced by the Histadrut Labor Union, on the grounds that it was illegal.

The Israeli Army Radio (official) said that Attorney General Beharv-Miara announced that the Supreme Court (the highest judicial body) received a request from Minister Smotrich to prevent the Histadrut strike (Monday).

The radio indicated that the court is studying Smotrich’s request and is awaiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s position.

Hebrew media, including Yedioth Ahronoth, quoted Smotrich as saying that the strike is political and illegal and must be stopped immediately.

Yedioth Ahronoth also noted that the government’s petition calls for a ruling that the surprise strike is not due to a collective labor dispute and is political.

The head of the Histadrut labor union, Arnon Bar David, said that political considerations are what are obstructing the exchange deal with the resistance.

David added that these considerations are what led to receiving bodies instead of prisoners, and therefore the economy must stop in Israel, referring to the union’s escalation against the government.

He pointed out that instead of recovering the prisoners, the Israelis are receiving more bodies, and called on society, organizations and various bodies in Israel to join the protests and expand them starting tonight.

Initial indicators

In the same context, Maariv newspaper quoted the head of the Histadrut’s media department as saying that 95% of local authorities in Israel are on strike this morning.

Regarding their position if the court responds to Smotrich’s request, he said, “If the court orders the strike to be stopped, we will do so, but this will not be our last shot.”

“The strike is not easy and it is not a luxury, but we have no choice,” he added.

The Israeli Labor Union controls most sectors that include workers and employees in the public sector, including government companies, local councils, and municipalities.

Given its impact on vital sectors such as education, health, and infrastructure, the anticipated strike could lead to a near-total paralysis of the Israeli economy, including airports, public transportation, and daily services, in addition to halting other vital operations.

Calls for new demonstrations

In parallel with the start of the general strike, the families of Israeli prisoners announced the organization of demonstrations today in 32 locations in Israel and called on the masses to join them.

Today’s strike comes after the largest demonstrations in Israel since the beginning of the war on Gaza, denouncing the Netanyahu government’s hesitation in concluding a deal with the resistance, which would pave the way for the release of Israeli detainees in the Strip.

Tel Aviv Tribune’s correspondent reported, citing Israeli estimates, that more than 300,000 people participated in the demonstrations, while Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted protest organizers across Israel as saying that 770,000 people participated, including 550,000 in Tel Aviv, amid the closure of several road junctions in more than one location in Israel.

For its part, Israeli Channel 12 said that the police have so far arrested 15 protesters from the Tel Aviv demonstration, and Israeli media reported that opposition leader Yair Lapid is participating in the demonstration.

Lapid also called on Sunday for a strike to shut down the state’s economy in order to pressure the government to reach an agreement to release the remaining prisoners in the Gaza Strip.

Tel Aviv Tribune’s correspondent said that thousands of Israelis flocked to the government headquarters complex in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to demand an immediate exchange deal.

Israeli demonstrators also gathered in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, denouncing what they described as the government’s abandonment of the prisoners, and demanding a prisoner exchange deal.