More than 150,000 take to streets across Israel in largest housing protest yet
Demonstrations held in more than 10 cities across Israel in bid to lower spiraling costs of living; joint Jewish-Arab protest held for first time since demonstrations began 16 days ago.
By Ilan Lior , Gili Cohen , Jack Khoury, Nir Hasson, Yanir Yagna and Eli Ashkenazi Tags: Israel housing protest Israel protest Israel strikeMore than 100,000 people took to the streets Saturday to protest the spiraling costs of living in Israel. Marches and rallies took place in eleven cities across the country, with the largest ones taking place in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be'er Sheva and Haifa. The protesters chanted "the people demand social justice" and "we want justice, not charity."
The biggest protest was in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands march from HaBima Square to the Tel Aviv Museum. "We are very happy to see the Israeli people go out into the streets," said Yonatan Levy, one of the organizers. "We were amazed to see throughout the day that the issues that were raised on the different stages and tent cities are not so removed from each other after all."
In Haifa, 8,000 people marched through the city. In Jerusalem, 10,000 protesters marched from Horse Park to the house of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In Be'er Sheva, 3,000 protesters marched carrying banners saying "Be'er Sheva is shouting times seven." (Sheva is the Hebrew word for the number seven)
In Ashdod, protesters marched from City Park. Around 150 people gathered at Ashdod's tent city on their way to the march. Students from Beit Barl marched from the tent city at Kfar Sava to central Ra'anana junction.
For the first time since the beginning of the protests 16 days ago, a protest involving both Jews and Arabs took place in central Nazareth. In Kiryat Shmona 1,000 protesters marched in the city's main road, towards the southern exit of the city.
Many prominent Israeli musicians performed at the rallies, including Hemi Rodner, Dan Toren, Yehuda Poliker, Barry Sakharov Yishai Levi, Aviv Geffen, and others.
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Israelis hold up banners as they march in Tel Aviv on July 30, 2011. |
| Photo by: AFP |
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The Jewish Democracy at work. tens of thousands of protestors and not one shot being fired. Would definitiely not happen in an Arab country
Is alive and well in Israel, and we will never go away
To those of us who are interested in the welfare of Israel but view it from afar, it would be very informative to inderstand what these protests are all about. All we can see is that it appears that costs are going up but salaries are not keeping pace. Can Haaretz provide some background articles describing the issues; what options the government has to rectify the problem; and what the protestors are hoping to achieve that would be realistic and feasible? What is it that Netanyahu could do but is not doing?
My thought for what is worth is: They are just deluded people needing to look at their thought process before the "shit hits the fan" Then it will hit them in the face at the ridiculousness of their puerile behaviour. The country and its leader needs calm,it has enough to contend with without the unaccounted & unecessary burden put upon not only to the leader but the viability of the state to function with. equanimity..They cannot use MOB RULE.Protesting has become very fashionable . it seems..Unduly so in IMHO ..They will gain nothing,by the continuation of this. If and when the country is prepared it will do what it can.Otherwise they can go to court with their demands.Funny,seeing the picture of Che Guevara..If that does not show how socialist oriented they are,methinks what is..Shame on them all.To top it all they belong to a middle class which begs the question what indeed they are protesting about.. I would gather them all,send them to a country & see how the economic situation is really dire,then they will bless Israel with all its faults accepting with some patience until what they require may be accommodated..Until then ..........go home you are making fools of yourselves..
..."Les Miserables"--"They will see the people rise!"?
For years I was asking the question "why the Israelis do not take the streets, just like it happens in France". Now - this finally happened. And it's very convincing.
If this demonstration fights for its true agenda without falling prey to some interested party,then they have a good chance of changing the squeezing the Middle Class to such an extant that it's becoming hard to breathe.But no upheaval will be complete unless & until the grievances of the veterans are addressed honestly & properly,without lies & baseless promises. All those who are demonstrating now will one day also become veterans,& they like us can proudly say that we had a hand to enhance the prestige of Israel.
So proud to hear that Israelis and "Arabs" are marching together for social justice in Israel, goes to show if it affects everyone people will join and march for change! Bless you all! Lets organise a march for Gilad next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do some of these protesters have a giant picture of a mass murderer? We do need change but not a communist one.
Umm, ummm.... Labour, got it.