Passengers Stranded as Workers’ Union Halts Flights at Ben-Gurion Airport in Protest of Judicial Reform

The Workers’ Union in Israel announced widespread strikes on Monday morning to protest the judicial reform and the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he called on the government to freeze the legislation of the judicial reform. The strikes have affected various sectors, including universities, hospitals, and transportation.

Grounded Flights at Ben-Gurion Airport

As part of the strikes, there will be no flights leaving Ben-Gurion Airport until further notice. The announcement was made by Israel’s Airport Authority Committee Chairman Pinhas Idan. However, incoming flights that are already in the sky will be allowed to land. Passengers continued the check-in process after the announcement without knowing if their flights would actually depart. The flight board in the airport showed flights later on the day still intending on leaving but they won’t necessarily leave.

Workers’ Union’s Demands

The Workers’ Union has demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stops the judicial reform legislation, and if this demand is met, flights will return to functioning properly.

Other Sectors Affected

The strikes have also affected universities, where professors and students have suspended their academic activities, and hospitals, where only emergency and critical services are being provided. The country’s seaports and public transportation have also been impacted.

These strikes come amid widespread protests across the country, with citizens demonstrating against the judicial reform and other government policies. The reform has been criticized as an attempt by the government to consolidate power and weaken the judiciary, which is seen as a threat to democracy.

The strikes by the Workers’ Union in Israel have affected multiple sectors, including transportation, universities, and hospitals. The grounding of flights at Ben-Gurion Airport is part of the protest against the judicial reform and the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The strikes will continue until the demands of the Workers’ Union are met by the government.