Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul complete for now, thanks to organized work

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Months of political turmoil in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial overhaul were granted a reprieve on Monday. Netanyahu announced he would delay judicial changes, which sought to give Israel’s parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court rulings.

But it’s not just a victory for the hundreds of thousands of Israelis from all walks of life who have taken to the streets for 12 long weeks to voice their opposition. This is a huge victory for the unions, as Netanyahu’s hand was forced by a massive and historic strike.

On Sunday, the Histadrut, the Israeli labor federation I work for, took the almost unprecedented step of calling a nationwide, cross-industry general strike. Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David appealed to the people of Israel, urging them to unite across political lines to restore sanity and a sense of common purpose to our country. Bar-David expressed deep concern over the divisions that have torn Israeli society apart and the descent into madness he fears.

Standing in the conference room, I saw people from all corners of Israeli society. It brought tears to my eyes. Businessmen and women, employers, workers’ representatives, leaders of workers’ committees and trade unionists gathered under the roof of the Histadrut headquarters with a common mission. People in other circumstances usually sit on opposite sides of the table and compete. Not this time.

ארנון בר דוד יו”ר ההסתדרות וראשי המגזר העסקי הלילה במלון דן. עומדים שם מנכלי הבנקים, מנכלי רשתות (ויזל ואחרים). בפעם הראשונה בתולדות המדינה, אני מעריך, הם יילכו להשבתה משותפת מחר. הם מוחאים כפיים אחרי שבר דוד סיכם בפניהם שהולכים עד הסוף. pic.twitter.com/3qvGr3M5N3

— נדב איל Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) March 26, 2023

Bar-David’s call for unity and cooperation was not only noble but also urgent: Israel stands at a critical moment in its history, and the challenges it faces demand a united response.

This is why we have collectively called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to be the leader of all Israelis, regardless of political affiliation.

Our call has been heard, at least for now.

Protesters gather outside Israel’s parliament in Jerusalem amid ongoing demonstrations and calls for a general strike against the far-right government’s controversial campaign to overhaul the justice system, March 27, 2023.
HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images

The strike we called was not a strike against the state but a strike For the state. It was a bold and necessary step to end the madness that threatens to consume Israel as we know it today. It was a call to action that all Israelis must heed if they want to save their country from the abyss.

Before becoming a trade unionist, I served for 25 years in IDF conflicts and crises. My service remains a poignant reminder of the sacrifices many brothers and sisters made for Israel’s independence. Many others like me, reservists from elite units, joined the protests, in an act as patriotic as their service.

It is undeniable now that the fate of the country is in the hands of its citizens, and we must work together to ensure a bright and peaceful future for ourselves and future generations. As we head into our 75th Independence Day, we need to figure out what our vision will be for the next 75 years.

Our call has been heard by all Israelis. Workers, worker representatives, public servants and businesses have all sent a clear message to Netanyahu: it is time to put political differences aside and work together for the greater good of our country.

So far it has worked.

The strike was a bold and necessary step to end the madness that threatens to consume Israel. Organized work has never been more important.

We are proud to end the strike, given its success. We will not hesitate to strike again unless our elected leaders and Prime Minister Netanyahu stand up for our workers, our people and our country.

Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner is director general of the Histadrut’s International Relations Division. He is an expert in negotiation, conflict resolution and management, a communications specialist and a former military spokesperson.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.

Not all news on the site expresses the point of view of the site, but we transmit this news automatically and translate it through programmatic technology on the site and not from a human editor.

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