‘We’ll rebuild everything they tried to destroy,’ labor union head vows at start of strike

Head of the Histadrut labor union Arnon Ben-David launches a 100-minute strike that hundreds of companies and businesses across the country are taking part in, and speaks at the ongoing 24-hour rally held for the hostages at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square.

“I sometimes get up in the morning and I say to myself, ‘Is it real, what happened on October 7, is it possible that the State of Israel reached this place — that people were abducted from their homes and beds?” says Ben-David. “Soldiers killed while on duty? We’re in the midst of some terrible dream, and I want to wake up from this terrible dream and create a new Israel.”

Ben-David says he hoped there would be a miracle that would eliminate the need for events to mark 100 days and that there would be a hostage deal in place already.

“At this hour, hundreds of companies and businesses in the public and private sector are stopping for 100 minutes to remember and remind,” says Ben-David. “We’re striking today to work together to rebuild the land of Israel. We’ll rebuild everything that they tried to destroy and make it better.”