National Emergency Authority: Israel Must Retain Control of ZIM

The National Emergency Authority (NEA) has officially stated that Israel must act to prevent the transfer of control over ZIM Shipping Company to foreign hands, due to potential implications on the country's ability to function during emergencies and on the continuity of supply to the economy.

At the beginning of the document, the NEA notes that it has received information that there are currently "proceedings to examine the transfer of control over ZIM Shipping Company to foreign hands", and within this context, the implication of "waiving the 'golden share'" that the state holds for emergency purposes also arises.

The NEA emphasizes that Israel has a duty to ensure continuous operation even in exceptional scenarios: "The State of Israel is obligated to ensure continuity of operation in any scenario", particularly when a "maritime siege/ disruption in ports" is imposed - a situation that could harm the "vital import" to the country.

The NEA further notes that it has developed response plans for these scenarios, and within this context, the 'golden share' is a central component in the national response. Accordingly, it is written that coordination with ZIM "requires continuity" in order to enable "vital import to Israel in any scenario".

In conclusion, the NEA takes an operative stance: "The position of the NEA is that the State of Israel must act to enable the operation of ZIM Company in routine and extreme scenarios", and therefore "keep the control over the company in Israeli hands", for the sake of "maintaining the continuity of state function".

The position paper is signed by Eitan Yitzhak, head of the National Emergency Authority, and it has been distributed to the senior state and professional echelon, including the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Transportation, the Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, and the heads of the security system and the Ministry of Transportation.

In the industry, the NEA's position is seen as a significant reinforcement to the struggle led by ZIM's workers' committee against any move that would lead to the transfer of the company to foreign control.

Following this, the chairman of the workers' committee updated that the committee has approached the Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) today to promote a declaration of a labor dispute, and according to him, the declaration is expected tomorrow. The committee presents this move as part of the struggle to prevent a change of control and to keep ZIM as an Israeli shipping company.

The NEA's document places the issue of control over ZIM at the heart of a broad national discussion, which goes beyond the business aspect, and touches on the country's ability to ensure functional continuity, vital import, and the activation of emergency mechanisms during a crisis.