Employees of Israel’s national shipping firm, Zim Integrated Shipping Services, began an indefinite strike to protest the planned sale of the company to German shipping group Hapag-Lloyd, according to Xinhua. The workers warned the proposed acquisition could threaten national emergency preparedness.
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The industrial action followed a statement from Hapag-Lloyd confirming advanced takeover negotiations. The statement did not provide a financial figure, but several Israeli media outlets reported the potential deal could be valued at over 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Union representatives stated they were not consulted about the sale and raised concerns about job security. They also cautioned that foreign ownership could endanger Israel’s capacity to transport crucial supplies, including ammunition, medicines, and food, during crises, describing Zim as a strategic asset.
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The sale also faced opposition from Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, and Haifa’s Mayor Yona Yahav. Haifa hosts Zim’s headquarters and one of the nation’s two largest ports. Both the union and the mayor stressed Zim’s vital role in national security and emergency logistics. They warned that foreign control might disrupt supply chains, impair Israel’s emergency readiness, and result in widespread job losses.
Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform
