Arad, Israel News

The Histadrut's general strike ended only a few hours into its fifth day Sunday, after the labor federation's chairman, Ofer Eini, signed an agreement with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz changing the employment status of tens of thousands of contract workers.

The Histradut Trade Union Federation continues to disrupt life in Israel for the third day in a row as it wrangles with the Finance Minisrty The Histradut entered its third day of a national strike Friday after failing to reach an agreement with the Finance Ministry.

The President of the National Labor Court, Judge Nili Arad, ruled early Thursday morning that the strike could continue during the day, but that there was to be no further strike action at Ben Gurion Airport.

Former captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit visited the family of his tank commander, who was killed in the same incident in which Shalit was captured.

The Histadrut labor federation submitted another request for a general strike to the National Labor Court Tuesday, after talks with the Treasury over the employment status of contract workers broke down again.

One of the first surprises for a group of visiting Israeli teenagers who arrived in the United States in late December was the sight of the Empire State Building lit up in blue and white, in tribute to Hanukka.