Histadrut chief at Tel Aviv rally: ‘Entire country will stand still tomorrow’

At the Tel Aviv demonstration, Histadrut chief Arnon Bar-David announces, “The entire country will stand still tomorrow,” including the Dan and Egged bus lines, ports and municipalities.

He calls on the private sector to join in the strike to bring back the hostages.

He says, “The key word here is abandonment” of the hostages, as well as the country’s south, north, and the “unbelievable abandonment of the economy,” while “coalition funds are funneled to unnecessary government offices.”

Bar-David says he had promised hostage families to use his power to shut down the economy “when the time comes.”

“That time is now,” he says.

“It is unacceptable that our children die in tunnels because of political interests,” he declares. “I refuse to be indifferent to the fact that our state would abandon [the hostages].”

The public, he says, “should take to the streets. Cry out: Enough!”

He is met with cheers, and some boos. “Where were you until now?” some cry.