עסקת נדל"ן נוספת להראל ואשטרום בגרמניה: רכשו בניין משרדים בדיסלדורף תמורת 220 מיליון שקל

With Moti Bassok, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haaretz Service

No flights are taking off from Ben-Gurion International Airport since Thursday noon, as part of an increase of the severity of the Histadrut labor federation strike that began Tuesday, Israel Radio reported.

Flights are allowed to land, although there will be delays in the removal of luggage from the planes.

The airport authority committee is to meet at 5 P.M. Thursday to decide whether to renew takeoffs.

The Histadrut decided Wednesday night to intensify the strike, including the banks and the stock exchange in the sanctions starting Thursday.

The second and third Knesset readings of the government's economic austerity plan will take place a week from Thursday, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said during a cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Sharon's announcement gives the treasury and the Histadrut labor federation just seven days to reach an agreement on the plan, which has sparked a general public-sector strike. Protests for and against the strike abounded Thursday as various agencies asked Histadrut labor federation chairman Peretz for a reprieve, Israel Radio reported.

Dozens of Bezeq workers blocked Highway 40 from Be`er Sheva to Tel Aviv with their cars for one hour Thursday morning to protest the economic plan. About 1,000 people involved in the business sector staged a demonstration in Tel Aviv Thursday against the Histadrut and the strike, which Israel Manufacturers Association president Oded Tyrah said is costing the country NIS 3 billion in damages.

Workers from the military-industrial complex arrived outside government offices in Jerusalem on 160 buses to protest the government's attempt to enforce the economic plan via legislation.

Tourism officials asked Sharon to issue work orders to airport employees and the head of the port authority asked for a two-day break in the strike to lessen the problem he faces, as more than 50 ships are being denied entrance to the country due to the strike.

Lengthy negotiations between Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Histadrut chairman Amir Peretz concluded late Wednesday with no concrete results. The two began meeting again Thursday morning, stopping for a break in the afternoon.

The treasury and Histadrut have just seven days to reach an agreement on the plan, since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Wednesday that the second and third Knesset readings of the government's economic austerity plan will take place next Thursday.

Wednesday night's negotiations followed talks Tuesday night and Wednesday morning that failed to avert a widening of the strike.

Israel Radio reported Wednesday that one of the main stumbling blocks remains the Histadrut's vehement objection to the government's plan to raise the retirement age for women to 67.

Prior to Wednesday's meeting, the Histadrut leadership announced that if the treasury would not rescind a proposal that would adversely affect pension funds, the labor federation would consider escalating the strike.

The talks are aimed at minimizing the differences over the government's economic austerity plan. Lengthy negotiations held Tuesday night reached an impasse, and several more public sector workers joined the strike on Wednesday.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, school studies began an hour late, state-run hospitals were operating on a Sabbath schedule, and clinics of the Histadrut's Clalit health maintenance organization were being staffed only by doctors.

Who's on strike?

Bank workers joined the strike on Thursday, and the stock exchange will be closed as well.

Flights to and from Ben-Gurion International Airport are running as normal, but those hoping to leave the country should expect long delays. Sanctions by ground staff at the airport are holding up departures by several hours and those landing in Israel are waiting hours for their baggage. Customs official are also striking, and there are no spot checks on arrival in the country.

The education system will start at 9 A.M. Thursday, as teachers are delaying the start of studies by one hour.

All government offices, including the Interior Ministry, which issues passports and identity cards, and the Transport Ministry's licensing offices, are closed, as are the National Insurance Institute and the Employment Service.

Local authorities are also striking. Refuse is not being collected and parking tickets are not being issued. In state-run kindergarten's parents stepped in to replace teaching assistants, although kindergarten teachers were not on strike. The municipal telephone hotlines have gone cold, and religious councils were not providing services to the public.

Gas supplies could be affected if the strike goes on for more than one or two days, as oil refinery workers went on strike Wednesday. Gas stations employees continue to work as normal, however.

Israel's ports are closed, and no ships are allowed to dock and those already in port cannot unload their cargo.

Israel's border crossings with Jordan and Egypt are closed.

Inter-city and urban bus services are running according to schedule, but there are no trains at all.

Bezeq workers are also on strike, although emergency provisions have been made for the security services, hospitals and Magen David Adom. Bezeq's directory inquiries service is not working.

The Israel Electric Company has also been hit by the strike, with only emergency services being provided.

Postal workers have been allowed to continue working and post offices are open. Mail is being delivered.

With the exception of Clalit, all other HMOs are working as normal. Clalit employees are on strike, although doctors are working. Branches are open, but patients are warned to expect delays. State-run hospitals are operating a skeletal crew, and only emergency procedures will be carried out. Well-baby clinics remain closed.