Airport Workers Planned Strike to Disrupt Transport Minister Regev’s Flight, Delayed to Avoid Embarrassing Netanyahu

Senior officials at the Israel Airports Authority revealed that the sudden strike at Ben Gurion Airport, which occurred on August 20, 2026, was originally planned for the previous day. The strike aimed to disrupt Transport Minister Merav Regev’s flight to Rabat, Morocco. However, the strike was postponed by the workers’ union chairman, Pinchas Idan, to avoid embarrassing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his joint visit to the airport with Regev.

Despite the delay, there was an attempt to disrupt the handling of Regev’s luggage, causing minor delays, but her flight ultimately departed normally. The strike sparked public outrage and displeasure from both Regev and Netanyahu, who had previously maintained relatively coordinated relations with Idan.

Behind the scenes, there was an unusual agreement to extend Idan’s term as union chairman by an additional year, in exchange for negotiations on a workforce efficiency plan. The core issue involves converting temporary workers into permanent employees, a move the Airports Authority resists due to a growing labor deficit. Officials claim Idan’s push to make temporary workers permanent is a strategic effort to influence the union leadership elections, including promoting his son Naor’s candidacy.

The strike and its timing have prompted the Airports Authority’s board members to reconsider recent decisions, including the extensions granted to Idan and his brother Mordechai, both of whom are past retirement age. Idan has denied the reports about the strike’s original timing and motives.