The chairman of the workers’ union of Israel Airports Authority, Pinchas Idan, announced on Monday morning at about 10:30 a.m. that beginning immediately, there will be no take-offs abroad from Ben-Gurion Airport in protest of the “judicial revolution” and the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Idan made the announcement during a press conference of the Histadrust labor union during which its chairman Arnon Bar-David announced a general strike of the Israeli economy in protest of the judicial reform. Bar-David emphasized that public transportation will be excluded from the strike. Bar-David announced a “historic strike” in order to “stop the madness.” “We are all coming together to shut down the State of Israel. The malls and factories will close. We have a mission to stop this wave of legislation and we will win. We will return the State of Israel to sanity.” The strike includes all workplaces in the public sector as well as in the business sector. Hospitals will operate in “Shabbat mode” as well as MDA and firefighting and rescue services and the Israel Electric Company. Some banks announced that they are closing their branches on Monday at noon. The “Big” mall chain, the Azrieli Group and other retail chains also announced that they are joining the Histadrut strike and that starting at noon on Monday, all the shopping centers they own will be closed. Pharmacies and supermarkets will remain open. Many universities have canceled classes and schools have canceled their Pesach day camp programs. Special education settings will continue to operate as usual. In a rare step, the Israel Medical Association also announced on Monday morning a full strike of the health care system in protest of the judicial reform. The strike will include all public hospitals and all community clinics. The Medical Association will operate an Exceptions Committee as usual to allow life-saving treatments and services. I explain Israel for a living. But I don't have the words to adequately explain the insanity we are witnessing now. — Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) March 27, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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