Netanyahu’s comment on Indian doctors gets him into trouble

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has created a stir with his comments in response to demands by resident doctors on strike: he said he will bring doctors from India if the strikes continued, reported an agency on Sunday.

His comments have landed him in some “ideological” trouble as Israel’s existence is based on its Jewish identity and it welcomes anyone based on that religious identity.

According to a report by the Palestinian news agency Maan, one writer suggested that Israel should consider importing a prime minister from Mumbai, as that will cost the country less and perhaps the person would be more qualified.

Shlom Kaital, who is a prominent media figure and former general manager for Channel Two in Israel, said in a TV program that “Perhaps Netanyahu will consider bringing in journalists from Thailand since we intend to start our strike on Sunday.”

After nearly a year’s worth of negotiations that began in September last year, an agreement was signed between the Finance Ministry and the Doctors’ Labor Federation that saw, amongst many things, a 49 percent average salary increase for hospital doctors in Israel. The deal also included the addition of a thousand doctors at Israeli public hospitals, higher raises for doctors in rural areas and for specialists.

However, medical residents are now protesting against clauses made to the signed agreement and are demanding a review. The agreement was signed for nine years but doctors want it be reduced to three years from its previous July 2019 date.

The Israeli finance minister has so far rejected the interns’ demand to shorten the duration and said that “the doctors will receive a 49 percent pay increase on average because they agreed to a long-term agreement.”

Medical residents in Israel are expected to inform the country’s High Court later on Sunday if they plan to return to negotiations.

In the meantime, more strikes are expected.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, as of Monday, medical students from the Hebrew University in Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University in Be'er Sheva, and the Technion in Haifa will strike until further notice.

A number of protests are also expected to take place in Tel Aviv which will draw doctors from all over the country.

Netenyahu who urged doctors to keep patients out of their struggle, said that “I understand the desire to improve your working conditions, but no one in Israel is above the law. We must all respect decisions, otherwise there will be anarchy.”

I understand the desire to improve your working conditions, but no one in Israel is above the law. We must all respect decisions, otherwise there will be anarchy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu