The head of the Histadrut demands Netanyahu's resignation and threatens him with workers' protests

Protesters block a main street in Tel Aviv (European)

The head of the Histadrut (Israel's main labor union), Arnon Bar-David, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for the failure that caused the October 7 attack, and he must resign, vowing to join the protests against the government.

The Israeli media quoted Bar-David as saying during a conference in the city of Beersheba on Saturday that this government “brought a disaster upon us,” calling for setting a date for holding elections and installing a new prime minister within a year.

The Israeli union leader said that he spoke with Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to adjust the budget and adapt to the war situation, including closing unnecessary government offices, but they did not take his proposal into consideration, he said.

Bar-David warned that the Histadrut - which could disrupt a large part of the Israeli economy - may join demonstrations and anti-government movements if Netanyahu tries to cling to power.

Press coverage Head of the Israeli "Histadrut", Arnon Bar-David: "Israel needs change. This is my mission in the coming months. New elections must be held." pic.twitter.com/gY2VycXHML

- Quds News Network (@qudsn) February 17, 2024

For their part, the families of the Israeli prisoners detained in the Gaza Strip called on the head of the Histadrut to organize a strike to paralyze the economy, until an agreement is reached to exchange prisoners with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

On Saturday, thousands of Israelis demonstrated in several cities to demand that Netanyahu’s government step down, hold early elections, and return prisoners detained in Gaza, while police arrested a number of demonstrators in front of Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea.

The Al Jazeera correspondent said that thousands of Israelis closed the street leading to the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, demanding that the Prime Minister conclude a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

The police threatened to use force and arrest protesters in Tel Aviv if the streets continued to be closed.

Source: Al Jazeera + Israeli press