Israel hit by nationwide strike
A nationwide strike began in Israel today, shutting down government services, banks, the international airport and trains but was set to be held for only four hours following a court ruling.
The court decision headed off what was supposed to be one of the widest strikes in the nation’s history in protest over sweeping reforms.
The strike began at dawn but the court ordered negotiations between the union and government ahead of a further hearing.
Airlines moved forward times of flights at Ben Gurion International Airport in an effort to avoid the shutdown.
The unrest reflected a government assault on Israel’s welfare state, which for decades has shielded workers from the uncertainties of a free market economy, while keeping public sector employment high.
The labour crisis hit Israel in the midst of a long recession, brought on partly by a world economic slowdown and made worse by three years of Palestinian-Israeli violence, which has cut sharply into tourism and discouraged foreign investment.
When the strike began, government offices closed, trains stopped running, rubbish was left uncollected, banks and post offices were closed and electricity and phone repairs were ignored.
Border crossings, airports and sea ports were also closed and some hospitals operated with a skeleton staff.
