Israelis rally for better economic condition

[Benny B]

It has all the hallmark of Arab Spring, the tent city camped along one of the busiest corners of Israeli city, Tel Aviv, has become a rallying point for majority of Israelis faced with economic woes.

On Saturday, more than a quarter of a million people took to the streets across the country, marking one of the biggest public protests in Israel's history.

What began as a simple protest against the high cost of living has turned into something far deeper.

Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has announced a committee to look into implementing economic reforms.

The protesters say this is a good start, but they are not going to start breaking down the tent city until the reforms are actually made.

[Benny B]

It has been a summer of discontent in Israel as hundreds of thousands of protesters have held rallies across the country against the soaring cost of living.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on the significance of the protests, Joseph Dana, writer and journalist based in Tel Aviv, said the protests have been spontaneous and unprecedented.

But he said that protesters and protest organisers have specifically been silent on the issue of the occupation of Palestinians.

"Right now close to 85 per cent of the public is in support of the demonstrations and yet the protesters still maintain the line that they are apolitical - meaning they refuse to discuss the issue of occupation," Dana said.

"But the sad reality is that if Israelis discuss Palestinian rights, specifically the rights of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, they very quickly lose public support.

"If there is no criticism of the occupation it would provide an absolute proof that the Israeli society is not ready or willing to discuss this occupation."

[Tito24]

[Megalodon]

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