Latest news with #Histadrut
Al Bawaba
an hour ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
How Gaza occupation could drain Israel's economy?
ALBAWABA - Israel is getting ready for its first general strike on August 17. Families of prisoners and a number of social groups that want the war to end are leading the protests. Also Read Israeli airstrike kills Palestinian journalist Anas Al-Sharif Even more people are afraid that the conflict will get worse, which will hurt both people and the economy. At first, the Histadrut labor group was supposed to take part, but it pulled out for a number of reasons. The people who are organizing the strike say that keeping the war going will make the country's economic and social problems worse, in addition to the moral need to free the prisoners. Last week, the security cabinet agreed to go ahead with taking Gaza City as part of a larger military offensive against Hamas. This made people even more worried. Experts say that even a limited stay will cost a lot, with new taxes, longer tax freezes, and big cuts to infrastructure, healthcare, education, and welfare. The Finance Ministry is looking at the prices of recent operations, such as "Gideon's Chariots," which ended after three months. The Defense Ministry and the Finance Ministry have already agreed to give an extra 42 billion shekels over the next two years, with 28 billion shekels coming in 2025. This will be used to pay for the operation in Gaza and another battle against Iran. Government officials say, though, that there has been no real talk in the government or the Knesset about how the occupation of Gaza will affect the country's finances in the long run. It is thought that calling up a quarter of a million reservists before the end of the year would cost 7.5 billion shekels per month. Other costs like fuel, ammo, and emergency help could add another 12–15 billion shekels per month. Former IDF budget chief Brig. Gen. (Res.) Ram Aminach warned that under international law, Israel would have to provide all civil services in Gaza after the war, including water, sanitation, electricity, healthcare, and more, without being able to collect local taxes or rely on foreign aid. «احتلال غزة» ليس مجرد معركة عسكرية.. إسرائيل على أعتاب حرب اقتصادية قد لا تنتهي! فهل تتحول «أعباء القطاع» إلى «فاتورة تل أبيب»؟
Egypt Independent
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Hostage families call for nationwide strike as Israel prepares to escalate war
Jerusalem — Families of Israeli hostages kept captive in Gaza are calling for a nationwide general strike next Sunday, in protest of the Israeli security cabinet's recent decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City. 'We are shutting down the country to save the soldiers and the hostages,' said the relatives of the hostages in Tel Aviv. They were joined by the October 7 Council, which represents bereaved families of soldiers who fell at the start of the war. Organizers said the initiative would start as a grassroots effort primarily through private companies and citizens who will strike on Sunday to halt the economy. Within hours, the October 7 Council said 'hundreds' of companies said they would participate in the strike, as well as 'thousands of citizens who have declared they will take the day off.' Israel's largest worker union, known as the Histadrut, hasn't yet joined the strike. The families are expected to meet with Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David on Monday in a bid to convince him to join forces. Anat Angrest, mother of Matan, who is being held hostage in Gaza, appealed to the heads of the economic and labor industries, warning that 'your silence is killing our children.' Angrest said, 'I know your hearts are with us and in pain – but that is not enough. Silence kills. That is why I am here today to ask for something I have avoided until now – to ask the heads of industry: you have the power.' The Histadrut has already staged a general strike in support of the hostages' families last year. After the killing of six Israeli hostages by Hamas in September 2024, the union disrupted key sectors like transport, banking, healthcare, and joined widespread protests and demonstrations throughout the day. However, the Israeli government blasted their actions as political and moved to halt the strike through a labor court injunction. While the Histadrut has not commented publicly about the strike, Israeli opposition leaders have endorsed and embraced the initiative. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said, 'The call by the families of the hostages for a general strike is justified and appropriate.' The chairman of the Democrats party, Yair Golan, announced the party would join the strike and called 'on all Israeli citizens – anyone who holds the values of life and mutual responsibility dear – to strike with us, to take to the streets, to resist and disrupt.' The Israeli security cabinet decided on Friday to move forward with a controversial plan to expand the war and take over Gaza City. The plan has provoked harsh criticism from the families of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are presumed to be alive, warning that the new military move could endanger the living hostages and sentence them to death. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the escalation in a news conference on Sunday. 'Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily,' he told reporters. Netanyahu described Gaza City and the central camps in the enclave as the 'two remaining strongholds' of Hamas, which he insisted Israel had to attack to 'finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.'
The Sun
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Israel opposition leader supports strike for Gaza hostages
JERUSALEM: Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has endorsed calls for a nationwide strike in support of hostages still held in Gaza. 'Strike on Sunday,' Lapid wrote on social media, emphasising that the protest should transcend political divisions. Sunday marks the start of Israel's workweek, making it a symbolic day for collective action. 'Strike out of solidarity,' Lapid urged, adding that the families' plea alone justified the protest. The call follows a demand by around 20 hostage families for a strike to pressure the government. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives, has also supported the strike proposal. However, Israel's main trade union federation, Histadrut, declined to officially join the strike. Instead, the federation will permit workers to participate in solidarity demonstrations. The Forum urged citizens to take the day off and follow their conscience in demanding action. '675 days of captivity and war must end,' the group stated, criticising the government's handling of the crisis. Relatives accuse officials of neglecting hostages in favour of prolonged military operations. Israel recently approved plans to expand its offensive into remaining parts of Gaza. Concerns persist that further military action could endanger the remaining hostages. Of the 251 people taken during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still held, with 27 presumed dead. Hamas recently released videos showing two hostages in severely weakened conditions. The 2023 attack killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures. Israel's military response has resulted in over 61,000 deaths, per Gaza's health ministry. The UN considers the ministry's casualty reports reliable despite ongoing conflict. - AFP
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Israel's Biggest Labor Union Declines to Join General Strike
An attempt by Israeli hostage families to organize a nationwide strike against plans for a military takeover of Gaza was dealt a blow on Monday, when the country's main labor union declined to join in. The leader of Histadrut said he was concerned the union's involvement would divert the public discourse on the return of hostages into a political debate. The group represents 850,000 members, according to its website.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
West Asia News Live: Israel's heat wave, Turkey's earthquake defines a turbulent day in Middle East
August 11, 2025, 09:01:56 (IST) Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Israeli tech firms to join strike aimed at ending war Several of Israel's prominent software and hi-tech companies have announced they will permit their employees to join a strike aimed at compelling the government to end the ongoing conflict, Israel National News says in a report. This action is framed as an act of 'solidarity' with the families of hostages taken during the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023. The strike organisers are also reportedly in discussions to bring the Histadrut, Israel's largest labour federation, into the protest. The involvement of the Histadrut would significantly escalate the action into a potential general strike, capable of paralysing the national economy and placing immense pressure on the government. The move by the tech sector, a critical engine of the Israeli economy, highlights the significant financial and social strain the prolonged war is causing.
