Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08TELAVIV1322, HISTADRUT THREATENS NATIONAL STRIKE OVER REPEAL OF

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TELAVIV1322.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TELAVIV1322 2008-06-19 14:23 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tel Aviv
VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTV #1322/01 1711423
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191423Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7222
UNCLAS TEL AVIV 001322 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB IS
SUBJECT: HISTADRUT THREATENS NATIONAL STRIKE OVER REPEAL OF 
TAX EXEMPTION 
 
 
1.  Summary:  The Israel national labor federation Histadrut 
has threatened a national strike to begin on June 30 if 
Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On does not rescind his proposal 
to cut tax exemptions for long-term savings plans for 
training programs.  Previous finance ministers have attempted 
to remove the exemption, but backed down in the face of labor 
and government opposition.  The media has quoted opposition 
critics as calling the Bar-On proposal "election economics." 
Histadrut head Ofer Eini criticized the Ministry of Finance 
(MOF) plan to remove the tax exemption while at the same time 
reducing income taxes for individuals and companies. 
Histadrut contacts are divided as to the likelihood of a 
strike, but agree that if Bar-On stands firm on removing the 
exemption, there will be a national strike starting June 30. 
End Summary. 
 
2.  The Israel national labor federation Histadrut has 
threatened a national strike to begin on June 30 if Finance 
Minster Ronnie Bar-On does not rescind his proposal to 
abolish tax exemptions on long-term savings plans for 
vocational training programs.  The move was announced along 
with tax cuts for businesses and individuals that would be 
phased in over a seven-year period beginning in 2009.  The 
income tax exemption, which is available to the private 
sector as well as the public sector, allows employers to 
contribute up to 7.5 per cent of an employee's income and the 
employee to contribute up to 2.5 percent of their income - 
tax free for both contributions - into a fund that was 
designed for training costs but in now often used for home 
improvement, vacations, and the like.  The media reported 
that opposition Knesset members accused the Finance Minister 
of "election economics," a reference to rampant speculation 
on a possible dissolution of the government and new 
elections.  Meretz leader Haim Oron, one of the most 
respected and knowledgeable figures in the Knesset on 
financial matters, was quoted as saying that Bar-On was 
"making sure that the haves have more and the have-nots have 
even less," a complaint echoed by Labor MK Shelly Yachimovich 
who reportedly said that Bar-On's decision would deepen the 
gaps between rich and poor.  Bar-On was quoted as calling the 
new policies "the opposite of election economics" and in the 
past has railed against "irresponsible" and "populist" 
legislation. 
 
3.  This is not the first time that MOF has attempted to 
remove the tax exemption.  Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the 
previous finance ministers to try, and, like all others, 
failed in the face of strong opposition.  One contact 
theorized that the tax exemptions actually benefit a number 
of high rollers more than the rank and file union members, 
and that these private sector individuals are more important 
targets to the MOF than blue collar participants in the 
program.  But the blue collar participants bring organized 
labor into the fight, and to date no Finance Minister has 
been able to overcome that roadblock. 
 
4.  Contacts at Histadrut were divided over the likelihood of 
a strike.  One contact called the conflict more a case of 
"muscle flexing" than anything else, and said it would be in 
nobody's interests to have a national strike now with all the 
political turmoil (surrounding Prime Minister Olmert and 
possible elections).  He noted that previous finance 
ministers have threatened to remove the tax exemption but had 
always backed down, and that while current Finance Minister 
is a "tough nut", in this case he is "barking up the wrong 
tree."  When contacted again a few days later, following 
continuing media reports on a looming walkout, the Histadrut 
insider maintained that a full blown national strike was 
still doubtful.  According to him, Shraga Brosh, head of the 
manufacturer's association, is against Bar-On's move, and so 
are most of the GOI ministers.  (Brosh has reportedly formed 
a close association with Eini and often backs him.)  The 
contact maintains that while Brosh and the ministers think 
the removal of the exemption is a step in the right 
tax-reform direction, they think it is not worth the trouble 
it would bring at this time, especially as Bar-On went about 
it without prior union consultation.  Another Histadrut 
contact, however, called a national strike likely, and said 
it would be carried out on June 30th unless Bar-On withdraws 
his suggestion to abolish the tax exemptions.  This contact 
noted that there are no negotiations at present between the 
MOF and Histadrut. 
 
5.  Comment: The media is hyping the possibility of a strike. 
 The June 17 edition of the Jerusalem Post highlighted Eini's 
announcement that day approving a decision to hold a general 
strike on June 30.  Eini was also quoted as saying that he 
instructed Histadrut to begin preparations for the strike by 
the beginning of the following week.   Strike "preparations" 
are common in Israel, however.  The big question is whether 
Bar-On will stick to his guns or not.  Both Histadrut 
contacts agreed that if Bar-On bucks history and stays the 
course on his proposed reforms, there will be a national 
 
strike.  Given historical precedence, it seems likely that 
Bar-On will yield, or at least that some accommodation will 
be reached.  If Bar-On stands firm, however, the ball will be 
in Histadrut's court.  National strikes in Israel are 
traditionally on big tickets items like jobs, salaries, 
pensions and the like, and if push comes to shove it is not 
entirely clear to all whether Histadrut really wants to go to 
war and shut down the economy at this time over this 
particular issue.  End comment. 
 
********************************************* ******************** 
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv 
 
You can also access this site through the State Department's 
Classified SIPRNET website. 
********************************************* ******************** 
JONES