A longshoremen’s strike in Haifa and a threatened strike at the port of Ashdod is holding up Israel’s citrus exports at the peak of the season. The Haifa dock workers walked out in a long smouldering dispute with the Port Authority. Israel’s new Minister of Transport, former Air Force Gen. Ezer Weizman, was on the waterfront today to attempt to work out a solution.
At Ashdod, Israel’s newest port, longshoremen say they will strike for higher wages and premium payments. Meanwhile many ships are dropping anchor in Haifa Bay waiting for a loading berth. Several vessels held up at Haifa have steamed down to Ashdod in hope of loading a citrus cargo but without success. Thousands of cases of citrus fruits destined for European markets are piled high in warehouses at both ports and in danger of spoiling.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
