Thousands turn out across Israel in latest round of mass protests

I was amazed at how overpriced apartments were. It is internal issues like this that bring down coalitions. Israel has been very good at big infrastructure. They built the 'Mizpeh', Jewish towns all over the Gallilee. Israel needs to rapidly expand building within the Green Line. Clearly, demand is there. There is actually very little building in the settlements. However, the budget for that needs to be put into massive building within the Green Line, in Gallilee and the Northern Negev. There is land there (I saw it with my own eyes). If the 'Jewish Summer' keeps going, it may be time to go to a Unity Government with Kadima and Labor. Elections may be in order.

http://essential-intelligence-network.blogspot.com/2011/07/globalist-destabilization-machine.html

Why does this article state, "The protests began at 9:00 P.M. on Saturday" if it was published and last updated at "09:57 30.07.11"?

We the people must fight for Social justice against the Tyranny of Wealth & Government which Enslaves the people of Israel and brought the Middle Income people to realized they are just Slaving for a few families at the top for the rest of their lives with no hope to get any ware any time soon! We the People Must Jail those crooks in government and Tycoons who created many Cartels and Monopoly while abusing the people by real high prices, bad services and abusing of power in all kind of different ways. If you are rich and want to make a quick buck on our backs and get a piece of this dirty game be aware, We the People Will Look For You And Your Family All Over The World, and Will Not Let Go Until We'll Jail You!

Hmm. I propose housing discounts to those Israelis who served in the military. No breaks for those who traveled around the world instead of serving their country.

We Israelis have to live in this land for thousands of years. We cannot continue like this, hating Palestinians n taking their hate. No we must say no. Let, we be first.We are the People of God, God will be with us in our good deeds. Stop hearing hatred from rabbis, they have only brought destruction. ISRAEL, THINK SENSIBLY NOW .

they will amount to nothing if they don't lead to political parties and spokespeople. bibi is rightfully blamed, but where and who is the alternative? israel's unprecendted isolation, money wasted in the settlements, and the stalemate with the Palestinians are all interwoven with the middle class discontent. The government needs to be more representative of the population and center and not continue on it's stampede to the right.

Cut, Cap and Balance! Let them eat cake and drink Tea! Set up a Kosher Tea Party!

to make profound social and economic change requires joining the political process, alliance with parties and politicians and a program. the israel spring may just be a happening unless it joins forces with real political forces. .

I'm ashamed by people diverting the focus on a flag, some people are exposing peacefully some legitimate issues and people deal with a flag's presence?

While the only viable fix for the problem requires major reconstructive surgery(government), amputations(occupation/settlements), and intensive care to stabilize vital signs(prioritize the welfare of the Israeli people instead of right wing and big business interests!)

Speculation by the rich has led to an increase in fuel, property and food prices. The rich are buying anything and everything that they can with the hope of selling it for much more money than it cost them. Now that they are doing this with many necessities of life, it is affecting many people because the prices for such goods have gone up, not because of shortages, but because these supplies are controlled by a few people who want to profit from artificially manipulated and created shortages that benefit their pocket book while everyone else suffers. This is the truth here.

It's a bit ironic that right above the article on housing protests is an ad for luxury apartments. For the most part, the only ones who can afford these apartments are rich foreigners looking for a summer home. Israel does not need luxury apartments. It needs affordable housing - not just in Tel Aviv, but in all parts of the country.

Does this mean tax breaks for the rich with the hope that the rich will help create more jobs and houses? This never really worked in the U.S., is it going to work in Israel? No.

in it's attempt to stall negotiations and the flotilla, bibi has missed the domestic realities totally. he can rave and rant against Hamas, but he doesn't seem to understand a leader of a country must address domestic issues as well.

Would have been to integrate Jews and Arabs equally into Israeli society, which didn't happen. Israel is very euro-centric and couldn't care less about Arab culture or world-beat music. So what if there was a Palestinian flag? Arabs living in Israel perhaps have it a little bit better than those living in refugee camps. Social integration implies a better standard of living for all, including ethnic minorities, even the disabled. From each according to his ability to each according to his need. That was the dream then, before it got squashed by secular capitalism as one commenter suggested

Now the Israels becoming like Palestinians Refugees. they are living in tents.

In the US, the citizens are demanding tax breaks and the Islamist in the WH scorns saying "we don't need anymore corporate jets" even though most Americans can't afford to feed their kids properly. In Israel, a push by the government is now underway to reduce the tax burden. I wonder when BHO will start using Assad tactics and massacre his opponents?

Isreal has to absolutely provide housing for it's citizens. After security, that should be a priority for a government. Security, housing, medical care, otherwise, it's a 3rd. world country, and, that, Israel is certainly not.

It would be nice if the israeli government did somethiing about overpriced homes, apartments, land etc.... everything is 3 to 4 times more expensive that it should be listed...everyone there wants to become instant millionaires!!!

We ate tiered of empty promises and spins, of fear politics and tricle down neoliberal economics. make a change, NOW. Use emergency warrants to freeze rents. Cut taxes NOW. we are NOT stupid.

israel a democracy if you're jewish, south africa if you're non-jewish.

The rich get richer and everone else pays for their greed. Whatever happened to social democratic values where needs are more important than profit?

Time for Israeli middle class to step up and claim whats theirs. Enough its enough.

... prepared to grant the Palestinians their very own State, where they can do their own protesting?

so... nothing dramatic will happen... sorry, guys...

...? ...

Like Ceausescu before him, Netanyahu believes throwing a few shekels at the demonstraters will shut them up. Will the Israeli Middle classes go home and remain quite whilst the far right and religious whackjobs steal their country? Or will they like the Romanian people before them continue their revolution?

Hundreds of residintial units are built in the West Bank which are funded by the Israeli Tax payers (Most are empty-Natural growth is a lie!!). Those tax payers are more intrested with affordable housing in their cities in Israel (right to chose!!), however, the settler's government of Israel uses Israeli Tax payer's money to build houses in WB with a big incentives package and in a very low prices and again from the Tax Payers of Israel. Ultimately, Israeli Tax payers are unhappy and cannot afford to live where their money are burnt with no return but with ultimale purpose to continue the conflict with Palestinians-Prevent establishing Palestinian State. It is internal issue--But a good example-- of stupied polices and self burning tactics"

Anti-Bibiism is at the root of all this "housing" activism.

What is the legal status of the Palestinian flag in Israel?

Puhleaase Louise

Israelis can make a big noise when it comes to what affects their own lifestyles and bank accounts but can muster nothing more then a whimper when it comes to calling for an end to the illegal occupation, the maltreatement of WB Palestinians and the inequalities suffered by Israeli Arabs.

Some morons tried to hijack the protest and other protesters threw them away.

This is supposed to be an internal Israeli matter uniting right an left. Why in heaven's sake wpuld anyone normal hoist the flag of an enemy entity? We need to.emphasise what unites us, and an enemy flag does the opposite unless.the tent people want really tp undermine Israel.

The Palestinian flag flying is totally inappropriate. I'm not right wing and i would ask them to put it away.

...what is a palestinian flag doing in the tent city, which is an Israeli protest about social issues? Sounds like a troublemaker got what was coming to him.

and the Rightists as can be seen by their attack on the demonstration have realised they break this movement, or their stranglehold on Israel is gone, probably forever.

Good luck to the protesters, take no notice of the right wingers, they are happy when they can show their meanness.

What would have happened if the middle class in Israel were not aided by depriving the Palestinian people of rights, making israelis of Palestinian heritage subjects of Jewish rule, making them into a cheap labor force, taking their land and water, and forcing them to be dependent on the Israeli market? Then the middle class would have really been in the dumps i guess.

bibi's government on the verge of collapse. Just a matter of short time.

If you think protests can lower property prices then I advise you to take a lesson of how market economy works and you'll see that increasing supply may help instead of wasting time in tents.

for the public good, but an isssue like lowering housing rent requires government involvement in a complex way with support of the knesset. good that there is broad support, but bringing the problem one step further requires political skill and follow up. let's hpe that emerges too and bibi understands not everyone engges in 5 star hotel tours and restaurants.

to provie hundreds of thousands of apartments at affordable prices is not going to be arranged with a happening. it requires exeutive decisions, laws, allocation of budget money and serious follow thru. bibi doesn't have that, and his usual rehtorical charismatic disingenous responses are not going to do anything. knesset parties who care about the country are going to have to join or leave the coallition to make things owrk. enjoy the music, but don't build up false hopes.

I wonder why you don't understand a thing about what is happening these days.

and you know the rest of the song

It's party time......I wonder how many of these protesters drive 4x4 often eat out and smoke