Israel's teachers threaten strike

JERUSALEM, May 7 (UPI) -- Israel's plans to lay off 4,500 teachers prompted the head of the teachers' labor union Saturday to threaten a strike, the Ha'aretz news service reported.

Histadrut Labor Federation Chairman Amir Peretz warned his union could seriously cripple the nation. "If the teachers union will ask for our help, I will shut down the country," Peretz said.

The Education Ministry, which is proposing the layoffs, has said if the union goes ahead with even a partial strike, it will seek an injunction against the union from the National Labor Court.