IMA President, Dr Leonid Eidelman announces his hunger

Over the last three weeks the IMA has held intensive negotiations with the Treasury under the auspices of the National Labour Court President. At the request of the Court President, the procedure took place behind closed doors. Under this procedure, and in an attempt to reach an agreement, partial agreements were reached on several issues. However, there were still major points of disagreement between the parties.

Last week the Labour Court threatened to issue restraining orders, as requested by the state, against the physicians unless we reach an agreement. To date, unfortunately, an agreement has not yet been reached. 

On Sunday 24^th July, after 15 hours of deliberations, the Labour Court announced that they accepted the position of the IMA, and rejected the employers' requests for injunctions and the imposition of arbitration on the parties in opposition to the IMA. The court declared that the sanctions which the IMA imposed have been reasonable and proportionate and therefore do not justify an order for interruption.

The IMA is happy with this decision, which means it can continue to fight to save the public health system. 

On Monday 25^th July, a press conference was held at the IMA offices where Dr Eidelman, IMA President, announced that he will start a protest, calling the Israeli Prime Minister, and Health Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene in the dispute. Dr Eidelman has taken leave from his hospital and began a hunger strike on Sunday morning, which he will not stop until the end of the conflict. He requested that his colleagues do not join him in the hunger strike at this time, so that they can continue to responsibly care for their patients and not damage the health care system.

At 16:30 on Monday, Dr Eidelman began a 4-day walk from the IMA offices in Ramat Gan to the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem. Each day Dr Eidelman will be joined by approximately 20 doctors who will march with him. Following police instructions, he will walk with a small group, so as not interfere with traffic. Dr Eidelman is scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem on Thursday 28^th July where he will set up a tent outside the Prime Minister’s office and deliver a petition supporting our struggle signed by more than 25,000 people. 

The IMA hopes that the protest activity will not fall on deaf ears, and that the conflict will soon reach a successful end.