The employees of the Israel Airports Authority issued a surprising announcement, according to which Ben-Gurion Airport will operate on Yom Kippur format come the week’s end.
The background to the strike, an attempt by the Minister of the Interior to promote a move to collect funds from the Authority.
“After Interior Minister Aryeh Deri has established a committee that includes heads of settlements in the Shvelah area, whose goal is to prepare a move to collect funds from the Airports Authority, after a petition has been filed on the matter that is due to be heard by the High Court of Justice, the committee is accelerating its action to precede the legal process.”
“In the past, heads of local authorities in the Shvelah have already tried to take money from the Airports Authority, but the prime minister has promised in writing that no funds will be collected from the Authority, especially since the Authority is not close to the Finance Ministry or the State Budget table and does not receive municipal service from any of the nearby communities, operating independently and completely separate.”
Histadrut spokesman Yaniv Levy said that “the fears raised by the workers against the implications that could harm the Authority’s economic strength are understandable, and the Histadrut is working with all parties to find a suitable and agreed solution.”
The Interior Ministry said in response, “We reject any attempt to influence the proper functioning of the committee, the discussions will proceed as planned, and the conclusions of the committee on Ben-Gurion Airport will be submitted to the minister.”
The following strike schedule was released on Wednesday:
In this case, the strike results in closure on Shabbos.
- The airport will close to takeoffs on Friday, 13 Kislev at 5:00pm until motzei Shabbos at 6:00pm.
- Security inspections and check-ins on motzei Shabbos will begin at 6:00pm, which means the first flights will take off beginning at 9:00pm.
- All operations will be normal, including the control tower, fire services, central operations, security, baggage carriers, as well as companies servicing planes.
- A special team was established, including representatives of the Committee and the Port Authority, to approve exceptional requests for landings and takeoffs, including ambulance flights.
- The airport administration and employees are ready to care for passengers whose flights are scheduled after sanctions are set to begin and they will remain in the airport. Preparations include baby formula, mattresses and blankets.
- In the coming hours, as requests are received from airlines wishing to move up or cancel flights, a clearer picture will be available. The sanctions will impact 160 flights and their 25,500 passengers.
- The Airports Authority calls on passengers to remain informed and monitor flight schedules.
