Hospital doctors in Israel went on strike from Thursday morning, August 11, after negotiations between representatives of the doctors and Finance Ministry officials broke down overnight. The declared strike is set to continue until at least Saturday evening, and will affect all government-run hospitals and psychiatric and geriatric facilities. During the strike, hospitals will operate with limited capacity, like on the Sabbath, and will only provide emergency care and while postponing all non-urgent surgery and treatments.

Dozens of social activists demonstrated in Jerusalem on Thursday morning, August 11, against the social and economic policy of the far-right government. (Photo: Zo Haderech weekly)

The doctors stressed they would take additional measures if their demands are not met by the end of the weekend. They are demanding that the state budget for 2017-2018, which neo-liberal Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon will present to Knesset, include an additional 1-2 billion shekels to fund more hospital beds, more doctors and additional manpower in other positions. Channel 10 reported Wednesday night the Treasury is also planning to cut as much as a billion shekels from the state’s education budget.

During a cabinet meeting on the proposed budget held Thursday morning, demonstrators protested outside the Office of the Prime Minister in Jerusalem. Dozens of social activists – among them a leading member of the Communist Party of Israel, MK Abdallah Abu-Ma’arouf (Hadash – Joint List) – rallied against the social and economic policy of the far-right government.