Labour8/23/2026

Pinhas Idan Will Not Appeal to the Likud Tribunal Against His Expulsion From the Party

Pinhas Idan, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority workers’ committee, announced that he would not petition the Likud party tribunal following the decision to expel him. The decision was made against the backdrop of the shutdown of operations at Ben Gurion Airport, but Idan denies that he issued an instruction regarding the matter.

Key facts

•Party: Pinhas Idan, chairman of the Israel Airports Authority workers’ committee
•Appellate forum: the Likud party tribunal
•Approximately 100,000 passengers were affected
•Estimated damage: approximately 30 million shekels
•Staffing shortage, according to the committee’s figures: 400–500 employees
•The date of the official decision and the case number are not specified

What Happened

During the disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, dozens of flights were canceled and hundreds more were delayed, affecting approximately 100,000 passengers. The Ministry of Finance estimated the damage to the economy at approximately 30 million shekels. Israel Airports Authority management placed responsibility for the disruptions on the workers’ committee, while Idan and the committee deny that they conducted a planned strike.

Idan’s Decision

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered action to expel Idan from the Likud, the workers’ committee leader wrote to the chairman of the party tribunal, Michael Kleiner, that he would not appeal the decision. Idan stated that he had not ordered the shutdown of airport operations and that he himself had demanded an inquiry into who had issued such an instruction. He also emphasized that he would continue to represent Israel Airports Authority employees.

Investigation Into the Circumstances of the Shutdown

Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered the establishment of an external committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the shutdown of airport operations. Israel Airports Authority management opened a separate internal inquiry: the Authority’s internal auditor was appointed to head the committee, together with an independent external expert. According to the Authority’s announcement, the preliminary findings were expected to be ready by the end of that week.

The Workers’ Position and the Legal Context

The workers’ committee links the crisis to a prolonged staffing shortage: according to its figures, there is a shortage of between 400 and 500 employees, more than 100 are serving in the military reserves, and some employees work 220–260 hours per month. The Likud, by contrast, viewed the events as a deliberate attempt to shut down the country’s main aviation gateway. This is an internal party proceeding, not a decision by a state court or a labor court; the case number, date of the official decision, and applicable statutory provisions are not specified in the source.

What this means for you

Idan’s decision not to petition the party tribunal means that he does not intend to use the Likud’s internal mechanism to seek reconsideration of his expulsion. However, the question of who ordered the shutdown of airport operations and whether it constituted a strike remains the subject of external and internal inquiries. For passengers and employees, the report itself does not establish compensation, labor sanctions, or new rules governing strikes.

Find a lawyer for this topic

Case analysis based on court rulings