As the attention of the world is focused on the war in Iraq another war
is breaking out in Israel - the class war. The past two years have seen
Israel thrown into a severe economic crisis. As a consequence, a few
days ago Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced huge cuts from
government spending.
Israel is not a member of the powerful coalition, (which includes such giants as
Micronesia, Estonia and the Solomon islands) that has gone "to liberate" Iraq
under American leadership. Bush and Sharon in fact have no interest in reminding
people of the role of Israeli in this war.
On Sunday, March 30, 50,000 ministry employees started what amounts to
a work-to-rule (a work ban) in Israel. The following day a further
100,000 municipal workers came out on strike, and have stayed out. They
came out in protest against government plans to make drastic cuts of
around $2.3 billion (11 billion shekels) in public spending.