Israel's largest trade union declares strike

Jerusalem: Israel's largest trade union began a large-scale strike on Wednesday, shutting down the country's only international airport and all seaports.

The strike began on Wednesday after the Histadrut labour union failed to reach an agreement with the government on supplying finds to regional councils who have been unable to pay workers for months.

At Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport the lights were off and all flights cancelled. Throughout the country transport came to a halt, government ministries kept their doors shut, garbage began piling up and the postal, phone and electric services stopped.

It is unclear how long the strike will last.