Israeli finance chief Bezalel Smotrich asks attorney general to submit request to courts to halt strike
Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, has urged the attorney general to swiftly request court intervention in response to the upcoming nationwide strike on Monday. The aim of this strike is to apply pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration to secure the release of Israeli hostages currently being held by Hamas in Gaza.
- Middle East
- Reuters
- Published Date: 11:37 | 01 September 2024
- Modified Date: 11:37 | 01 September 2024
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has asked the country's attorney general to submit an urgent request to courts to block a planned nationwide strike on Monday that aims to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to bring back Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
In his letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, Smotrich argued that a strike had no legal basis since it aimed to improperly influence significant policy decisions of politicians on issues related to state security.
He also said that a broad strike - which would shut the country including outgoing flights - has significant economic consequences which would cause unnecessary economic damage in wartime.
The call for a one-day general strike by Arnon Bar-David, whose Histadrut union represents hundreds of thousands of workers, was backed by Israel's main manufacturers and entrepreneurs in the high-tech sector. The stoppage would begin at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT).
There was no immediate response from Baharav-Miara.