In response to the Knesset’s approval of the government’s first judicial overhaul law, the Israeli Medical Association (IMA) declared a one-day general strike in the healthcare system, scheduled for Tuesday. This strike is a form of protest against the law, which removes courts’ ability to review politicians’ decisions based on their “reasonableness.” During the strike, the healthcare system will operate on a limited Shabbos and holiday schedule, with emergency rooms of general and psychiatric hospitals continuing to function normally.
IMA Chair Prof. Zion Hagay expressed deep disappointment with the government’s failure to reach a compromise, branding the law as “one-sided.” He believes that the passage of the extreme version of the law, which cancels the “reasonableness” test, will have severe repercussions on the healthcare system, patients, and doctors. Hagay mentioned that the IMA had already declared a labor dispute and warned about the consequences, but their hopes for a more moderate version of the law were shattered.
Due to the short notice of the strike, patients with scheduled hospital procedures and surgeries will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, while outpatient clinics will remain closed. Certain medical services, such as dialysis, IVF treatments, urgent care, oncological treatments, surgeries, and some psychiatric services, will not be affected by the strike. However, all community health fund clinics, except those in Yerushalayim, will be closed.
Health Minister Moshe Arbel and Health Ministry general director Moshe Bar Siman Tov have sought legal advice on the possibility of obtaining an injunction in the labor court to prevent the strike from unjustly affecting thousands of patients. Despite efforts to mitigate the impact on patients, the IMA remains steadfast in its decision to call for the strike in response to the government’s actions.
{Matzav.com Israel}
What Israel’s current government passed today was the first step in undoing Justice Barak’s surreptitious move. We can call this, “Judicial re-reform.” The government’s view is that the judicial branch of government has usurped the role of the executive branch in appointing the judges and usurped the role of the legislative branch in creating an ability that lies beyond “interpretation of the law.” Rather, the unelected court can apply its own definition of these four terms to the laws that it wants to nix as they see fit.
The media, the leftist members of the Knesset, and sadly – even the president of the United States are trying to paint this as a repeal of democracy. But is it? If anything, it seems to be strengthening democracy.
The Chevra Kadisha need a well-deserved vacation after all these sudden deaths.
This is for all the naive brothers and sisters who believed the lie that the State of Israel is the solution to all our problems. מהרסיך ומחריביך ממך יצאו.
The good news is, Hashem is (still) running the world.