Mediation and Strategic Change: Lessons from Mediating a Nationwide Doctors' Strike

In the spring of 2000, the Israel Medical Association called a doctors' strike in all hospitals and HMO-type clinics in Israel. After being on strike for over ten weeks, the parties entered mediation under the auspices of the Israeli government. This book recounts the mediation process. It includes rich and colorful descriptions of the participants, the dispute and its history, and provides insightful analyses of milestones in the mediation process. Various themes typical of public policy dispute mediations are highlighted and analyzed, including: media coverage; politicians; who sits at the negotiation table; lawyers; the mindset of the mediator; and confidentiality. This case study will provide guidance and insights to disputants, lawyers, negotiators, mediators, ADR practitioners and researchers, and government officials. The study can also be used as a classroom text for classes in industrial relations, health care, government, communications, law, and economics.