ZIM Workers to Protest Sale, Citing National Security Concerns

Hundreds of workers from the ZIM shipping company are scheduled to protest on Tuesday morning outside the Basler Towers in Tel Aviv. The demonstration, announced Sunday by the Histadrut labor union and the ZIM Workers' Committee, is in opposition to the planned sale of the company to Germany's Hapag-Lloyd and Israel's FIMI Fund. The protest aims to highlight the struggle for the workers' future and the preservation of Israel's maritime independence.

The workers are concerned about job security and potential harm to their livelihoods amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the deal's completion. The Histadrut emphasized that any future arrangement must include worker representation and guarantee their rights, warning against decisions made without their input. "We will not allow a situation where dedicated employees, who built the company over years and sustained it through difficult times, pay the price for this deal," stated Eyal Yadin, Chairman of the Transport Workers Union. He added that the Histadrut would support the workers with all available means to prevent actions that could harm their employment, job security, or Israel's national interests.

The demonstration is set to begin at 11:30 AM, with protesters planning to carry signs against FIMI Fund executives Yishai Davidi and Gilon Beck. Beyond employment issues, the workers intend to raise awareness about the broader implications of transferring control of a company considered a strategic asset for Israel. Oren Caspi, Chairman of the ZIM Workers' Committee, has previously expressed strong opposition to selling 90% of the company to Hapag-Lloyd, which has partial ownership by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Caspi warned in July that this posed a "tangible danger to Israel's strategic security," citing Qatari influence over strategic assets.

The proposed deal, which involved splitting the company to bypass Israel's "golden share" restriction, would have transferred approximately 90% to Hapag-Lloyd and the remaining 10%, including the golden share, to FIMI Fund. Critics, including ZIM workers and others in the shipping sector, argue this would effectively eliminate Israel's domestic shipping industry. The Director of the Shipping Authority, Tzadok Regner, stated in February during a Knesset committee discussion that the deal offered "nothing good for the State of Israel" and that a diminished Israeli ZIM lacked economic viability.

Although the state blocked the deal last month, FIMI Fund has attempted to revive it. "Therefore, we will protest against FIMI Fund on Tuesday," Caspi said, urging them to cease efforts on the "dangerous deal." He stressed Israel's reliance on maritime trade, especially during wartime, and insisted the deal must be permanently removed from consideration, stating, "We don't play with the country's security!"