A general strike in Israel to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to closures and other disruptions around the country on Monday, but it was ignored in some areas, reflecting deep political divisions.
Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, called for the general strike, the first since the start of the war. It aimed to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, health care and the country’s main airport. But it ended early after a labor court ruled it must stop in mid-afternoon in response to a government petition calling the strike politically motivated.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets Sunday in grief and anger after six hostages were found dead in Gaza. The families and much of the public blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying they could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas to end the nearly 11-month-old war.
… Well. That was short lived.
When Bibi says he wants it ended, it ends.
This is what their vaunted democracy looks like. The guy committing genocide demands and gets unquestioning silence, and a broken strike.
It’s the envy of every last centrist.