AFT’s Weingarten Supports the Israeli Labor Movement’s Call for a General Strike

WASHINGTON-AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement supporting the Israeli labor movement's call for a general strike:

"As we approach Labor Day in the United States, the Israeli trade union movement, the Histadrut and its leader Arnon Bar-David, is using workers' critical clout to call a general strike to end this war and bring the Israeli hostages home. We support them and this action to halt Israel's economy to send a message to the Netanyahu government to end this war.

"We are devastated by the murder of the six innocent hostages by Hamas, young people, most of whom were at the Nova dance festival. But it is unconscionable that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to seal a cease-fire deal with Hamas that would bring the hostages home and end the humanitarian crisis of Gaza. We have called for an end to this war since January. In Netanyahu's obstinance, he has refused to listen, even to his own military and security experts.

"The people of Israel are in the streets today demanding an end to this war, bringing the hostages home and an end to the Netanyahu government. They deserve our support. And the people of the region, both Israelis and Palestinians, deserve a way forward toward life and dignity for both peoples."

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.