Medical residents walk off job in Israel

The Israeli government says it is seeking an injunction to force hundreds of doctors back to work in public hospitals. At least 355 medical residents failed to show up for work Monday, forcing hospitals to postpone non-urgent surgeries and other medical procedures, Haaretz reported. The court was expected to reject the state's request for an injunction, the newspaper said. More doctors were expected to walk off the job Tuesday over wages. The newspaper said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday offered a pay increase to medical residents willing to expand the scope of their hospital work. Senior doctors from the Hospital Doctors Organization are supporting the efforts of the medical residents, saying they would not attempt to replace the residents on the job. "The rupture in the health system has begun; it is now being felt by the medical residents, but will soon be felt by the entire public," said Eran Dolev, chairman of the organization.