The El Al national airline was officially put into liquidation today, when the Jerusalem District Court agreed to an appeal by its shareholders and appointed Amram Blum, the administrator general and official receiver, as temporary receiver for the airline. The Histadrut and the El Al employes committees have therefore lost all their series of fights to prevent the El Al windup.
Blum is expected to try to get part of the airline back into the air again, believing that an operating airline will be a more attractive buy for possible investors if it is decided to sell the airline to private individuals or groups.
Assisted by Rafi Har-Lev, a former El Al acting president, Blum is expected to try and operate some of the more profitable lines while keeping others closed.
But the airline employes committees have been getting all employes to sign an undertaking not to return to work at management request or instructions unless all employes are rehired or suitable arrangements made for those wishing to leave the company. Heavy financial fines have been mentioned for any El Al worker contravening this agreement.
Meanwhile, heavy police reinforcements are on guard at Ben Gurion Airport to prevent any possible demonstration by El Al workers who, it is feared, may try to sabotage airline equipment.
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