Strikes Shut Down Offices, Airport

Tens of thousands of striking workers shut down banks, government offices and Israel’s airport on Sunday. More workers were expected to join them today in their protest of proposed budget cuts and tax increases.

Today’s strike, which could paralyze much of Israel, will target hospitals, transportation, postal services, broadcasting stations and other industries.

Sunday’s unplanned half-day strike was called after a top union leader was arrested on a contempt-of-court charge for failing to show up at a hearing. The strike ended five hours later after authorities agreed to drop the charge.

In a compromise reached Sunday evening, the contempt-of-court order against top union official Shlomo Shani was dropped in exchange for a union promise that it would begin negotiations with the government to avert future strikes.

But the union said it planned to go ahead with Monday’s strike.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was “politically motivated” - a reference to the long affiliation of the Histadrut trade union with the opposition Labor party.