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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| General strike shuts down Israel | General strike shuts down Israel |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A strike by Israel's main trade union has shut down the country's airports, seaports, railways, government offices and many other essential services. | A strike by Israel's main trade union has shut down the country's airports, seaports, railways, government offices and many other essential services. |
| The powerful Histadrut union called the stoppage over the failure of local authorities to pay workers' salaries. | The powerful Histadrut union called the stoppage over the failure of local authorities to pay workers' salaries. |
| About 400,000 workers went on strike at 0900 local time (0700 GMT) after overnight talks with the government failed to resolve the row. | |
| The government has challenged the legality of the strike. | The government has challenged the legality of the strike. |
| "We want every last worker to get his salary today, every last worker," said Ofer Eini, the secretary general of Histadrut. | "We want every last worker to get his salary today, every last worker," said Ofer Eini, the secretary general of Histadrut. |
| In the past, similar strikes have led to rubbish piling up in the streets and stopped phone and electricity services. | In the past, similar strikes have led to rubbish piling up in the streets and stopped phone and electricity services. |
| Each day has cost the Israeli economy tens of millions of dollars. | Each day has cost the Israeli economy tens of millions of dollars. |
| Municipal malfunctions | Municipal malfunctions |
| Government and labour officials have been continuing talks through the day to try to resolve the conflict. | Government and labour officials have been continuing talks through the day to try to resolve the conflict. |
| Israeli media reports that the national labour court is convening to consider a government request that it issue restraining orders which could end the strike. | Israeli media reports that the national labour court is convening to consider a government request that it issue restraining orders which could end the strike. |
| The strike will continue until all civil servants receive their wages Ofer EiniHistadrut secretary general | The strike will continue until all civil servants receive their wages Ofer EiniHistadrut secretary general |
| The union says about 3,500 workers have not been paid for months. | The union says about 3,500 workers have not been paid for months. |
| They are employed by local authorities in Israel, but under Israeli law the country's Interior Ministry is ultimately responsible. | They are employed by local authorities in Israel, but under Israeli law the country's Interior Ministry is ultimately responsible. |
| Israel has struggled for years with malfunctions in a number of its municipalities. There have been allegations of the mismanagement of funds, cronyism and in some cases embezzlement. | Israel has struggled for years with malfunctions in a number of its municipalities. There have been allegations of the mismanagement of funds, cronyism and in some cases embezzlement. |
| BBC Jerusalem correspondent Katya Adler says that Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is in an awkward position with no appetite for further political fights. | BBC Jerusalem correspondent Katya Adler says that Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, is in an awkward position with no appetite for further political fights. |
| His current popularity rating is 3%. Members of his own cabinet have also faced allegations of corruption, some cases touching the prime minister himself. | His current popularity rating is 3%. Members of his own cabinet have also faced allegations of corruption, some cases touching the prime minister himself. |
| Football concession | Football concession |
| The strike had been due to begin at 0600 but was pushed back by three hours as government officials and trade union chiefs made a last ditch effort to hammer out a deal, but when those talks collapsed the union decided to press ahead. | The strike had been due to begin at 0600 but was pushed back by three hours as government officials and trade union chiefs made a last ditch effort to hammer out a deal, but when those talks collapsed the union decided to press ahead. |
| However, union leaders decided to make one exception to the strike - airport workers will be back on duty on Thursday evening for a single incoming flight - carrying the England football team. | However, union leaders decided to make one exception to the strike - airport workers will be back on duty on Thursday evening for a single incoming flight - carrying the England football team. |
| They are due to play Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifying match on Saturday. | They are due to play Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifying match on Saturday. |
| Union boss Ofer Eini said he did not want the stoppage to spoil the football match, or Israel's chance of advancing in the competition, so a flight carrying the England team and match officials would be allowed to land. | Union boss Ofer Eini said he did not want the stoppage to spoil the football match, or Israel's chance of advancing in the competition, so a flight carrying the England team and match officials would be allowed to land. |
| Flights scheduled to bring England fans, however, will not. | Flights scheduled to bring England fans, however, will not. |