Teva Rejects Prime Minister’s Plea to Keep Jerusalem Site Open

Dec. 20, 2017

Teva CEO Kare Schultz will not alter his plans to close the Jerusalem factory that employs about 800 people by the end of 2019, despite a personal plea from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“These measures are painful, but absolutely vital,” stated Schultz, after his meeting with Netanyahu, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Economy Minister Eli Cohen.

Instead, Teva said it will work with the government to train layed off workers for new jobs.

Just days ago — in response to the announced layoffs and plant closing — Teva workers executed a union-ordered strike that forced the closure of Ben-Gurion airport, banks, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and government ministries.

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