News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) A general strike that threatens to shut down the country on Wednesday would destroy the tourist industry, warned Yossi Fatael, managing director of the Israel Tourist and Travel Agents Association. "A strike at Ben Gurion Airport will cost people traveling abroad thousands of dollars and will cost Israel’s tourism industry hundreds of millions of dollars," he told Globes. The tourist season is near its summer peak, and approximately 50,000 passengers pass through Ben Gurion airport every day.
 
Histadrut leader Ofir Eini is meeting on Monday with Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On in an effort to avert a strike, but the gap between the two sides on suggested wage increases is more than 10 percent of current wages.