There was disappointment last night when only an estimated 30,000 Israelis took to the streets to demonstrate for affordable housing and social justice. There were 15,000 protesters at the main demonstration in Tel Aviv, 3,000 demonstrators in Jerusalem and thousands more in smaller protests around the country. These numbers compared unfavorably with the 300,000 who came out to demonstrate earlier this month including 250,000 in the main demonstration in Tel Aviv.
The main speakers at the rally in Tel Aviv last night were protest leaders Dafni Leef, National Union of Students head Itzik Shimol and father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, Noam Shalit.
Leef said, "This social movement is the largest since the State was established and it will not stop, and nor will we change what we are saying. We will not rest and we will not give up, nor will we be broken or relent, until we achieve social justice. Our elected representatives are on vacation while we are here. Most MKs did not even bother to turn up for the emergency Knesset plenary debate.
The protest leaders have promised a massive turnout next Saturday night to demand affordable housing and social justice. Leef added, "Next week we will return with many more people. We are not going anywhere. We will be here until there is change and to ensure that social justice is done and not just seen to be done."
Speaking about Gilad Shalit, Leef said, "This is the 25th birthday of Gilad Shalit. I am also 25 and there are many 25 year olds at this protest and Netanyahu has neglected us all. We are all Gilad Shalit and we will make sure that he comes home to a better place. We will not fight over crumbs but for a new pie for all of us. Come on the march of the million. We are here because of economic policies that are pushing more and more people from the middle class into poverty. Israel is on the streets and we will remain on the streets until victory.
Noam Shalit said, "Bringing Gilad home should be the first response in bringing back social priorities and the right values to Israeli society.
Published by Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 28, 2011
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011