Israel’s largest labor union calls for strike
New Delhi:
The Israeli embassy in India is joining a strike called by the country’s largest labor union to protest against the hard-line right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a controversial attempt to overhaul the system. Justice.
“Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor union, has instructed all government employees to go on strike, including Israeli diplomatic missions around the world. The Israeli embassy will be closed today for until further notice and no consular services will be provided,” the Israeli embassy in India said in a statement tonight.
Officials of all Israeli representations in India and around the world will continue to strike until it is suspended.
Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to address the nation later today, a day after firing his defense minister, who broke ranks over the divisive issue, and after Mr. President Isaac Herzog once again called for an immediate halt to the push for reform.
Israel’s top union head later today called for a general strike over the package, which would undermine the power of the judiciary and protesters for months have considered it a threat to Israel’s democracy.
“I am calling for a general strike,” Histadrut President Arnon Bar-David said in a televised address. “We have a duty to stop this legislative process and we will do it,” he added, vowing to “continue to fight”.
The Israeli Medical Association was quick to follow suit, declaring “a total strike in the health system” that would affect all public hospitals.
Liza Dvir, a spokeswoman for Israel’s Airports Authority, told AFP news agency that the shutdown also affected flights at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
The nationwide protest was called hours after Herzog demanded an immediate halt to the justice program, following protests in Tel Aviv overnight.
“For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel… I urge you to immediately stop the legislative process,” Herzog said in a statement.
The plan to give more control to politicians and reduce the role of the Supreme Court has sparked months of protests and raised concerns from top Israeli allies including the United States.
The White House noted that President Joe Biden recently told Mr Netanyahu that “democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship”.
Mr. Netanyahu’s government, an alliance between his Likud party and its far-right and radical allies, has argued that changes are needed to rebalance power between lawmakers and the judiciary.
With input from AFP
