Transportation Workers Challenge Miri Regev in Likud Primaries Over Industry Disputes

The Likud party primaries opened this morning amid growing tensions between Transportation Minister Miri Regev and transportation sector workers. Regev, campaigning nationwide under the slogan "Miri is Home," faces backlash from various unions who have threatened to oppose her at the polls due to conflicts during her tenure. The El Al workers' union published a recommended list of 12 Likud members to support, notably excluding Regev, who was once popular among El Al employees. The list is led by MK Eti Atiya, followed by MK Keti Shitrit and Minister Eli Cohen.

The dispute escalated after Regev pushed to open an operational center for the low-cost airline Wizz Air in Israel, prompting strike threats from El Al's union concerned about the impact on their market share at Ben Gurion Airport, where El Al holds 43%. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) workers also joined the protest, with the Histadrut labor federation declaring a labor dispute. This conflict is intensified by Regev's promotion of a new airport to be operated by a private concessionaire rather than the IAA.

Recent heavy congestion at Ben Gurion Airport has fueled worker dissatisfaction with the Transportation Ministry. Unlike previous primaries, there is no widespread support or endorsement for Regev among workers. Taxi drivers have openly opposed her for over a year due to her support for introducing Uber in Israel. Internal taxi driver groups and social media campaigns actively discourage voting for Regev. She is also absent from the taxi drivers' union recommended list, which represents about 80% of Likud's central membership. The unions accuse the ministry of enabling illegal "pirate" taxi drivers, many of whom are ultra-Orthodox, through Uber's legalization efforts. Official union letters warned that Regev risks losing their strong backing, marking a critical moment of reckoning for her political support within the transportation sector.