Miri Regev against El Al workers' union: "They are telling people not to vote for me"
Hours before the polls closed in the Likud primaries, Miri Regev claimed that the El Al workers' union was calling on voters not to cast their ballots for her. The minister appealed to her supporters: "Go out and vote - I need every single one of you."
The battle for realistic spots on the Likud list for the Knesset has entered the final stretch: a few hours before the polls closed, Minister of Transport Miri Regev published a video this evening (Monday) in which she claimed that the El Al workers' union is sending SMS messages to voters, calling on them not to vote for her.
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In the video, the minister stated:
"The El Al union is calling people and telling them not to choose me. It is sending SMS messages not to choose me. I call on you to vote for me. Go out and vote - I need every single one of you."
Regev's video comes against the backdrop of the struggle surrounding the entry of Wizz Air into established operations in Israel, which is also taking on a political dimension. Last week, the chairman of the El Al workers' union distributed a list of recommended candidates for the Likud central committee elections to employees, and the one who stands out by her absence is Minister of Transport Miri Regev.
According to sources familiar with the details, the omission of Regev is not accidental and stems from fears among El Al employees regarding the consequences of Wizz Air establishing an operational base in Israel. The move is perceived by industry unions as a potential threat to Israeli companies and employee job security.
The confrontation surrounding Wizz Air has in recent months spilled far beyond a professional discussion about competition and ticket prices. In February, the Histadrut declared an industry-wide labor dispute, affecting more than 11,000 employees at El Al, Arkia, Israir, Air Haifa, and the Israel Airports Authority. The Histadrut claimed that establishing a base for a foreign company without coordination with workers' representatives could harm industry stability.
On the other hand, Regev has consistently argued that the entry of a low-cost carrier operating a base in Israel is intended to increase competition and lower flight prices. At the peak of the confrontation, she even attacked Israeli airlines, claiming the public had become their "captive customers."
In May, a turning point occurred when Regev ordered a halt to negotiations with Wizz Air after the company did not resume flights to Israel at the time, announcing an intention to examine similar moves with other foreign carriers. However, from the perspective of aviation workers, the possibility of establishing a foreign base continues to arouse concern, and this tension is now clearly manifesting in the political arena.
