Pressure Mounts on Histadrut Chairman to Shut Down Economy in Protest Against Government
In recent days, there has been growing pressure on Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar David to take the drastic step of shutting down the economy as a protest against the government’s legal reform. Economic commentator Yehuda Sharoni discussed the situation in an interview with Anat Davidov and Guy Peleg on Monday, expressing his belief that Bar David may eventually be convinced to take such action.
The conversation turned to the relationship between Bar David and leaders of the Likud party, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Sharoni revealed that a wage agreement in the public sector was also on the agenda, which could be signed this week if the economy remains stable. He noted that the Histadrut, which is currently politically biased in favor of the Likud government, has ties to various government ministers and large committees affiliated with the party. This close relationship could play a role in Bar David’s decision-making process.
Discussing the potential shutdown of the economy, Sharoni acknowledged that it was being considered as a “doomsday weapon” by those in opposition to the legal reform. However, he mentioned that three months ago, a similar move was taken, resulting in the economy being shut down temporarily. At this stage, the Histadrut has issued a statement indicating that they are not planning to shut down the economy.
When asked about the possibility of Bar David joining the protest, Sharoni expressed his belief that as long as the issues can be resolved through reasonable means, there is no need for such a drastic step. However, he speculated that Bar David might consider joining the protest after the second and third readings of the legal reform.
In a closing remark, Sharoni highlighted the concern of officials in the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the recruitment of reservists into the army. This issue has a significant impact on national security and is something that the Minister of Defense also recognizes.
The preparation of this article was assisted by Shani Romano from 103FM.
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