JERUSALEM, Mar 28 (NNN-MA’AN) – Israel’s largest labour organisation, Histadrut, started yesterday, a general worker strike, to press the government to halt its contentious judicial overhaul plan.
Histadrut’s chairman, Arnon Bar-David, issued a statement saying, “workers and employers will together halt the judicial overhaul,” Israeli media reported.
Following his call, departing flights from Ben Gurion International Airport have been grounded. Factories, banks, shopping malls and local authorities participating in the strike also shut down services.
Fast food chain restaurant, McDonald’s, also joined the strike and closed its restaurants throughout Israel.
Public transportation, schools, and kindergartens were not affected.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Medical Association announced a strike at all public hospitals and community clinics for the same reason, sparing only urgent life-saving treatments.
All Israeli public universities also went on strike, on the same grounds. Israel’s Association of University Heads, in a statement, called on Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his ruling coalition to immediately stop the legislation procedure and begin discussions to reach an agreed and broad outline.
The current Israeli government has put forward changes to the Israeli judicial system, aimed at curbing the “overly activist” Supreme Court, since the beginning of this year, sparking continued massive protests nationwide.– NNN-MA’AN
