Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labor federation and senior business leaders met Monday with representatives from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum amid their call for a nationwide strike. After the meeting, they decided the Histadrut would not formally join the planned shutdown next Sunday.
In a statement issued afterward, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Bar-David and the employers “will support expressions of solidarity from workers on Sunday to strengthen the hostage families and support the fight to bring back all captives.”
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Hostage families meeting with Arnon Bar-David
(Photo: Yasmin Gil, Histadrut Spokesperson’s Office)
Bar-David explained that the Histadrut is avoiding a general strike out of concern it could politicize the public discourse around the hostages’ return. “If I knew a strike— not just one day but longer—would end the conflict, stop the war and bring them back, I would support it fully,” he said. “Though my heart breaks with frustration, I see no real hope for that.”
Despite this, Bar-David said he would call on union leaders and worker committees to allow employees who wish to participate in protest activities to do so according to their conscience, without risking their labor rights.
Additionally, the Histadrut and business leaders pledged to support and help channel resources toward the Hostage Families Headquarters’ ongoing efforts. The union will also make available its head of Worker Organization, Amichai Stinger and its logistical and operational teams to assist indefinitely.
However, it remains uncertain whether large worker committees in key sectors, such as the Defense Industries, Airports Authority and Israel Railways, will join the protest or permit employees to skip work.
After the meeting, the Hostage Families Headquarters warned that “the decision to conquer Gaza and continue the war will cause severe socio-economic damage to the country.” They stressed that “the Histadrut was founded on mutual responsibility,” but at this stage has chosen not to shut down the economy.
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Demonstrators in Tel Aviv calling for the release of the hostages
(Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
The families called on the Histadrut and employers to “mobilize a broad national effort to prevent immediate and real risks to the lives of hostages and fallen soldiers, to avoid abandoning our fighters and to protect Israel’s economic and social fabric.”
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A relative of a hostage present at the meeting told Ynetnews that union and business representatives “said they would contribute and help when needed.” He added, “There is great empathy and willingness to join our efforts, calling on everyone to participate in the ‘day of stoppage’ on August 17. We hope cooperation with the Histadrut will grow and that they will stand more firmly with us. Their hearts are with us and they will do what they can.”
He also acknowledged the limits: “I was at a similar meeting a year ago. I don’t expect a strike from them right now. What we could get from this meeting, we got.”