With dozens of flights suffering delays and cancelations due to anti-austerity strikes and protests across Europe, Israel has shown its support in a series of strikes of its own.
The day of action saw general strikes in Spain and Portugal closing some airports, businesses and schools and leading to clashes between police and protesters. The effect of Israels’ strikes spread to other regions including Gaza where transport came to a sudden halt leaving scores of people stranded and reports of one fatality.
In a statement, a spokesman for the European Trade Union Confederation, who co-ordinated the day of action said, “We are extremely grateful for the solidarity shown by our brothers in Israel. Although they are not in the European Union their co-ordinated strike action has certainly had a massive impact.”
An Israeli Government spokesman said "We are proud to support the people of Europe in their struggles against austerity, although we do not usually condone interference in the internal issues of foreign leadership as things can easily rocket out of control."
However European leaders are disappointed with Israel’s stance. In a statement from Downing Street David Cameron said, “Their strike actions are unhelpful and misguided and in fact may cast a very large cloud over the Middle East.”