Weekly Commentary: Labor Court Ban on Political Strikes Is a Good Start -
The Challenge Now Is to Keep Roads Open
Dr. Aaron Lerner 5 September 2024

Labor Court Judge Hadas Yahalom's ruling this week that the Histadrut's
strike to force the government to accept any possible deal to gain the
release of hostages was political and hence illegal is an important first
step in restoring law and order to the country.

The challenge now is to take the next step and restore law and order on the
nation's streets and roads.

For far too long, the Israeli public has been denied the basic right of
freedom of movement by Israelis illegally blocking roads.

Years ago, people faced legal consequences for illegally blocking roads.

But then, the police decided that it wasn't politically correct to interfere
with anyone in a wheelchair who wanted to block commuters on the way to work
on a highway.

It has been downhill ever since.

It has now become a standard feature of protests to block roads.

Newly appointed Police Commissioner Daniel Levy has indicated that he
intends to restore law and order and keep the roads open.

But he cannot do it alone.

His success hinges on the judges who deal with arrested road blockers having
the same commitment to enforcing the law as Labor Court Judge Yahalom did
when it came to the illegal strike.

To be clear: the right to protest is a sacred right in our vibrant
democracy.

But no group - no matter how much they are supported by the media - has the
right to illegally deny us our equally sacred freedom of movement.

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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il