Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take responsibility for the disastrous events of October 7 and resign from his position in comments delivered this morning at an event in Be'er-Sheva. He further predicted that the State of Israel will have a new prime minister in about a year.
"Change will have to come through elections, and if the people want the same coalition which runs the country now – so be it. If the people want a change – then it will happen," Bar-David said.
The Histadrut chairman also said that Israel needs a significant political overhaul and should hold elections by December of this year. He expressed his hope that a wave of protests would not be required to bring about elections.
"We went through the most terrible year in the history of the State of Israel. A year of division and social polarization and a judicial revolution. Someone turned us into enemies, turned the different sectors of Israeli society against each other. Instead of dealing with our enemies and their growing power, we dealt only with internal strife. The Prime Minister took us to the edge.
"There is only one way out – elections. The prime minister should first of all take responsibility; if I were him – I would resign."
In addition, Bar-David promised that the Histadrut would join the protests and demonstrations demanding to replace the government "that brought disaster" on Israel.
"We are part of this people. This is no longer the judicial revolution, this is the future of the State of Israel. If the people take to the streets – the Histadrut will undoubtedly be part of the protest."
In relation to the war, Bar-David made his demands clear:
"There is a deadline. The abductees need to be released and a deal reached, if it doesn't happen because it doesn't suit someone politically – this government will fall apart."
The Histadrut chairman also addressed the question of MKs Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot (National Unity) – opposition leaders who joined the emergency war cabinet – remaining in the government at this stage of the war.
"It's a difficult question. I think it's getting closer to the moment they make a decision," he said. "The people do want unity and joint participation, the soldiers want that, they stay because they have influence. I want them to stay."
Bar-David also revealed that he spoke with Netanyahu and with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich with the aim of correcting the budget and adapting to the war, including closing unnecessary government offices, but according to him the two did not respond.
This article was translated from Hebrew by Hannah Blount.
