May Day, the international holiday of the labor movement, was celebrated in an uncertain and desultory manner in Israel on Tuesday.
There were no parades, massed red flags or ringing oratory, as in years past.
Reflective probably of the ebbing of socialist fervor here and abroad, and the fact that Israelis have just had two days off from work — Remembrance Day and Independence Day — most people stayed on the job.
Teachers and students were given the option to take the day off, if they gave advance notice. Israelis are given the choice to observe either May Day or Tisha B’Av.
The choice applies to government employees, but most reported for work.
Although some enterprises of Histadrut, Israel’s trade federation, were closed, and others manned by skeleton staffs, Histadrut was reluctant to call for a general work stoppage, which could hurt the economy at a time of high unemployment.
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