After Ben-Gurion airport crisis, Netanyahu must placate thousands of raging voters - analysis
Netanyahu has already found the scapegoat who will be placed on the altar, the person everyone currently hates and is ready to roast themselves: Pinchas Idan.
In May 1946, shortly after the conclusion of World War II, the United States experienced a nationwide strike that severely disrupted transportation systems. Trains transporting food, coal, and passengers came to a halt, causing a two-day nationwide paralysis. The blame game ensued between workers and railroad companies, with accusations of profiteering and unions being labeled as extortionists.
The situation quickly escalated, with President Harry Truman threatening to draft railroad workers and Congress accusing Truman of overstepping his constitutional boundaries. The public, meanwhile, was focused on assigning blame.
Eighty years later, the situation in Israel mirrors that of post-war America. The closure of Ben-Gurion Airport due to a strike by Airports Authority workers has once again left thousands of passengers stranded, causing widespread frustration and anger. As with the post-war scenario, everyone involved is pointing fingers at one another, claiming victimhood and responsibility for the incident.
The workers blame management, while management accuses them of reporting a staffing shortage. Transportation Minister Miri Regev, who praised workers just a day prior, now threatens to fire anyone responsible for the strike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stood alongside Regev, praised the workers' dedication but is now grappling with the fallout from the incident, which has already impacted his Likud election campaign.
The situation has forced Netanyahu to find a scapegoat for the public's anger. He has directed officials to remove Pinchas Idan, the chairman of the Airports Authority workers' committee, from his position within Likud. Idan, a longtime Likud member and mayor of Lod, has been a central figure in the labor movement for nearly four decades. His long-standing presence and control over one of the strongest labor committees in the economy make him a prime target for Netanyahu's efforts to appease voters.
The legal implications of the strike are also being scrutinized. Netanyahu's administration is working to remove Idan from his party membership, following a party statement describing the strike as an "illegal act that harmed citizens and damaged the economy." With the election campaign in full swing, Netanyahu has no intention of allowing this incident to go unaddressed, as it could significantly harm his chances of winning re-election.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
