The Impact of Histadrut on Israeli Politics and Social Movements

The Role of Histadrut in Israeli Politics

The labor union that initiated the strike in Israel on Monday, known as Histadrut, has been a significant player in the landscape of Israeli politics. This organization has notably led strikes in the past year that challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, compelling him to retract a controversial judicial reform plan. Histadrut, which translates to the General Organization of Workers in Israel, has deep historical roots, being instrumental in the founding of the State of Israel itself.

Established in 1920 during a period of substantial Jewish immigration to what was then British-administered Palestine, its early mission was twofold: to address the needs of workers and to lay the foundational framework for the future state of Israel. Histadrut played a crucial role in creating the industrial, financial, and economic institutions that facilitated the nation’s emergence in 1948. Notably, its early leader, David Ben-Gurion, would go on to become Israel’s first prime minister.

As the largest trade union in Israel, Histadrut currently represents approximately 800,000 workers across 27 distinct unions, as detailed on its official website. The organization has been led by Arnon Bar-David since 2019, who brings a wealth of experience as a longtime union member and a former military reservist.

In early 2023, Bar-David, along with other union leaders, business executives, and military reservists, took a stand against Netanyahu’s far-right government’s initiative aimed at curtailing the Supreme Court’s power to overturn decisions made by elected officials. Histadrut organized a significant strike that, alongside mounting unrest in the military and widespread protests, contributed to one of the most substantial domestic upheavals in Israel in decades. This wave of discontent ultimately led Netanyahu to pause the contentious judicial reform.

Following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent military response in Gaza, the judicial reform issue receded from the public discourse. However, Histadrut demonstrated its ongoing influence by calling for a general strike on Monday. This action, in conjunction with large-scale street demonstrations the previous night advocating for a resolution to secure the release of hostages from Gaza, represented one of the most extensive displays of anti-government dissent since the onset of the conflict.