Several public sectors are on strike in Israel this week, but that of the customs workers is causing the greatest damage. Minister of Industry and Trade Dalia Itzik (Labor) appealed to them today to \"show national responsibility\" and return to work, as the is causing \"irreparable damage to Israeli exports.\" Many exports are being prevented from reaching their destinations, and Israeli factories are without raw materials to manufacture goods. Histadrut Labor Union official Shlomo Shani was asked by Arutz-7\'s Haggai Segal this week whether it was really in the best interests of Israel\'s workers to call strikes that so greatly damage other sectors and possibly cost workers their jobs. He responded that every strike causes some damage in the name of reaching certain goals, but that the leaders are constantly monitoring the situation.



Former Finance Minister Avraham Shochat was strongly critical of the Histadrut today, saying, \"All those who are on strike are of the public sector, those whose jobs are guaranteed. But those who are not striking are those who are suffering from the strikes, who are losing their jobs and their sources of income.\" Histadrut chief Amir Peretz said today that the government is taking advantage of the security situation to play down the striking workers\' demands. He also said that he would personally take action to ensure that \"irreversible damage\" to workers not be caused. Some assembly lines have already been closed and workers have been sent on forced vacations.