Netanyahu Expels Union Chief After Ben Gurion Airport Strike

A surprise labor strike at Ben Gurion Airport on August 20, 2026, halted operations and landings starting at 2 p.m., leaving thousands of passengers stranded during the peak summer travel season. The disruption involved the closure of all check-in counters and ground-handling stoppages, forcing several flights to return to their origins. The Israeli Ministry of Finance estimated the economic damage between NIS 25 million and NIS 30 million.

Benjamin Netanyahu responded by revoking the Likud party membership of union chairman Pinchas Idan and warning that anyone obstructing airport operations would be sent home. Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered the Israel Airports Authority to petition the Labor Court against the union, stating that those who held citizens hostage would pay a heavy price.

Conflict emerged over the strike's intent. Airport officials alleged the action was originally planned to disrupt Minister Regev's flight to Morocco, though the timing shifted after Netanyahu accompanied her to the airport. Pinchas Idan denied these claims, arguing that management was torturing employees with hard labor and that officials should focus on severe manpower shortages rather than making assumptions. The Histadrut labor federation supported this view, denying that a formal strike had been ordered and blaming the chaos on inadequate state preparation for the summer rush.