Anti government demonstration (photo credit: Or Adar)
Israel has been shut down on Monday as its national labor federation the Histadrut called for a general strike in protest over the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned judicial reforms, a strike that has been joined by a number Israeli high-tech firms. Even the airport has canceled all flights, leaving countless passengers stranded there for the time being. This comes as shocking news about Israel’s national security situation was revealed in a Knesset committee meeting Monday morning.
“I ordered the immediate halt of takeoffs at the airport,” said Pinchas Idan, head of the Ben-Gurion Airport workers union.
And even major Israeli high-tech firms like Wix, Lemonade, monday.com and Fiverr announced that they will be joining the strike.
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Monday.com explained its decision to its employees saying, “Yesterday, the line that threatens Israel’s democracy and stability was clearly crossed. In view of this, the company is joining the planned general strike in the economy today and tomorrow.”
“The right to protest is at the heart of democracy and has a clear and critical impact on shaping Israel’s future. The struggle for Israeli democracy has so many partners with extraordinary energy that gives us enormous hope for success.”
Arnon Bar-David, the head of the Histadrut labor federation, held a press conference Monday morning announcing his organization’s call for a general strike.
“This is an historic strike in which workers and employers will together halt the judicial overhaul,” said Bar-David. “We are all worried about Israel’s fate. Together we say, enough! We have lost our way — this is not about left or right. We can no longer polarize the nation.”
All of this comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his own minister of defense Yoav Gallant Sunday night. Gallant was fired after holding a press conference Saturday night declaring that he can no longer support the government’s judicial reform plan and called for a suspension of the legislative process for its passage currently before the Knesset.
Gallant cited the continued declarations by Israeli citizens that they would refuse to perform military reserve duties should it pass and the concerns that its passage would therefore be harmful to Israel’s security.
And Gallant explained his reasons at a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday, revealing that, as he reportedly said, “According to intelligence reports, there is a clear identification of the situation being an opportunity [for Israel’s enemies] to attack Israel.”
“The rift in Israeli society can bring our enemies to a prime opportunity. The Iranians are trying to erode relations between Israel and Arab countries,” Gallant was reported as having stated.
And after the session concluded, the chairman of the committee himself, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein said, “We have heard alarming things. This is not the time to replace the defense minister.”
Reports have indicated that Edelstein might also refuse to vote in support of the judicial reform plan.
