Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David said Sunday that the federation did not join calls for a general strike, arguing it would hinder the effort to secure the release of the hostages. He told reporters at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv that participating in a strike would “mark the protest as a political struggle,” which he stressed is not what he wants.
There is no left or right here, Bar-David said; this is about returning human beings who were kidnapped from their bed or from their tank. Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he urged him to look the hostage families in the eyes and “do what needs to be done – make a hostage deal and end this.”
The remarks came as Bar-David spoke to the media while surrounded by families of hostages at Hostage Square, underscoring the union’s stance amid the ongoing crisis.
Additional context and value:
– The Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor federation, appears to be prioritizing a focused humanitarian objective over broad political action at this moment, signaling a desire to keep pressure on the hostage negotiations without widening the confrontation.
– Bar-David’s call to Netanyahu emphasizes accountability to the families and a direct appeal for a tangible resolution to secure the hostages’ release.
– The stance may influence labor and public sentiment by showing solidarity with the hostage families while protesting the crisis in a way that avoids being framed as a general political struggle.
Summary: Bar-David’s remarks reflect a cautious approach by the Histadrut, choosing not to escalate with a general strike and urging the prime minister to secure a deal to end the hostage crisis.