Israel’s nurses’ union on Monday evening announced their strike would begin on Tuesday morning, 26 Menachem Av, at 7:00AM, during which time the nation’s nurses would operate on a limited [Shabbos] schedule.

In Hadassah Hospital in Yerushalayim for example, nurses congregated to hear a lecture from Dr. Tikva Safran, a member of the hospital’s nursing staff and an expert on violence against medical personnel, in addition to being a member of the Committee to Eradicate Violence established by the Ministry of Health.

Striking nurses attended the lecture on coping with violence in hospitals, including prevention advice on the one hand and stress management on the other. The strike was called as the union feels the government has failed in dealing with mounting violence against healthcare professionals around the nation.

As a result of the strike, all elective surgical procedures have been canceled as have many outpatient clinic appointments.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)