Herzog Decries Health Worker Strikes in Israel
President Chaim Herzog chastised Israelis on Tuesday for work slowdowns and strikes by the nation’s doctors, nurses and first-aid crews, saying they are symptomatic of a “social and moral sickness.”
“We have turned into a cruel society to ourselves and to others,” Herzog said during a commemorative service for Zionist leader Theodore Herzl. “This has been expressed in recent days in the health crisis in general and in MDA.”
MDA are the initials for Magen David Adom, which operates first-aid clinics, ambulance services and blood banks. It is financed largely by donations.
“The fact that we can allow a grave and tragic crisis such as this to happen and even to continue for such a long time is a symptom of a social and moral sickness,” Herzog said. “In this crisis and in other crises, all the dams were burst and human honor has been trampled.”
Herzog’s remarks came shortly before hundreds of Magen David Adom workers ended a 17-hour strike after receiving assurances from officials of the Treasury and Health ministries that they would receive their June salaries.
Only Minimal Services
Medical workers shut down all but minimal services Sunday and then walked off the job completely Monday because of the government’s refusal to advance the money for salaries.
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