Crippling strike in Israel

The tough war between Likud-led government and the opposition Labor-led Histadrut (general federation of Israeli workers) has increased with no signs of a compromise reached between the two parties.

The Histadrut said it would suspend the strike until Saturday evening with the hope that an agreement is reached with the finance ministry.

A public general strike has crippled life in Israel for the last few days and even government employees, except for those of the ministry of finance, went on strike. Histadrut chairman Amir Peretz said the government initiatives to crack down the effect of the strike were tantamount to attempts to liquidate the working class.