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The general strike: a severe blow to Israel’s status quo
BETHANY RIELLY reports on the general strike that significantly disrupted Israeli economy and exposed its dependence on Palestinian labour
UNITED THEY SHALL NOT BE DEFEATED: Palestinian demonstration during a general strike in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Tuesday

ON Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians across their historic homeland took part in the largest collective action the region has seen in decades.

Workers across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Israel and even refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan withheld their labour in a show of unity and defiance against Israel’s long-held policy of fragmenting the Palestinian people.

Commercial centres across the West Bank were deserted, shops in the ancient markets of Jerusalem’s Old City tightly shuttered to protest at violence against Palestinians, the bombing of Gaza and looming evictions of families in East Jerusalem.

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