Numerous local councils announce they will not cooperate with Histadrut strike

Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

While several municipalities and local councils have announced work stoppages tomorrow as part of the national strike called by the Histadrut Labor Federation, numerous other municipalities have stated that they will not take part in the general strike.

Cities not taking part include Jerusalem, Ashdod, Bnei Brak, Netanya, Ramle, Dimona, Holon, Petah Tikva, Kiryat Gat, Arad, Beit Shemesh, the northern town of Katzrin, the Merom HaGalil Regional Council and the settlements of Efrat and Ma’ale Adumim, among others.

Israel Gantz, the head of the West Bank’s Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, says that his employees will “not take part in an illegal strike that weakens the country,” while the Safed city hall argues that it is irresponsible to halt municipal services during wartime.

Samaria Regional Council chief Yossi Dagan says that in court rulings, “it was specifically established that a workers’ committee does not have the right to shut down the economy due to a political debate in protest of political and security issues. With all due respect, no one is above the law.”

In addition, the National Committee for Heads of Arab Local Authorities in Israel has said it will not support the strike as an organization, with councils free to make their own decisions on the matter.

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