Fuel workers' strike could paralyze country By Jerusalem Post Internet Staff

A strike of workers dealing with the country's fuel and energy infrastructure could paralyze the country shortly.

Workers at the Tashtiyot Neft Ve'energia company today declared a strike over the government's decision to split the company into two separate entitites and privatize part of it, starting January.

They immediately began cutting off fuel supplies to all installations except the IDF.

The company controls the flow of fuel in 800 kms of pipes throughout the country, Israel Radio reports.

The fuel supply to Ben-Gurion Airport has already dwindled as has the supply to the Israel Electric Corporation and the oil refineries, according to the report.

The airport reportedly has enough fuel for about 2 1/2 days and the IEC for about 10 days.

Civilian flights and electricity supplies, particularly in the south of the country, could be cut off within two days, a company spokesman said.

Arrangements are meanwhile being made to transport fuel to vital installations by road.

http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2000/09/05/News/News.11786.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 29, 2000