Social protests in Israel amid deadly military escalation

The protest movement headquartered on Rothschild Boulevard will hold a silent, torchlight vigil in central Tel Aviv tomorrow (on Saturday evening), from the Habimah Theater to Charles Clore Park at 9:00 pm, “to show the prime minister that even in difficult days like these, he is still responsible for the welfare and health of the people just as much as their security.”

Once the demonstrators arrive at the beachfront park, they will hold discussions and sing, out of “solidarity with the victims of the terrorist attack. This people’s demands for serious changes in the daily agenda of this country and for social justice does not come at the expense of the fight against terrorism.”


Protest for social justice, South Tel aviv, August 15 (Photo: Activestills)

Social justice protests have been canceled for the coming days, including a mass rally planned for Saturday night in Jerusalem, following the terrorist attacks in the South on Thursday afternoon and the deadly response from Israel in the Gaza Streep. This will make Saturday night the first time in five weeks that the movement hasn’t held a massive series of protests.

Editors of the movement’s J14.org.il website said the attacks would not derail the protests but that over the next couple of days they would not hold any large rallies, concerts or celebrations. They also canceled a concert scheduled for the tent city in south Tel Aviv’s Hatikva neighborhood on Thursday, as well as a solidarity trip to Yeroham in the Negev planned for Friday.

MK Ayoub Kara (Likud) called for the tent protests to stop, following the Palestinian attacks. He added: “If I were one of the architects of the housing protest, I would announce that all demonstrations are canceled until the Trajtenberg Committee announces its findings, out of identification with those injured in the south.” “Those protesters are all in the middle class – they’re not in a crisis situation like the demonstrators in Beersheba or Kiryat Shmona,”

Earlier this week, MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) warned of “media spins on security and outside threats to distract the Israeli public.” “I hope people will not forget their demand for social justice,” he said.

Hadash (the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) condemn today the deadly military escalation in south Israel and Gaza. “This escalation serves only the neo-liberal government in Israel and it’s against the genuine interests of both, Israeli and Palestinian, peoples”, said. “Israel is the occupying power. Under international humanitarian law, it is responsible for the welfare and safety of the Palestinian population living under its occupation,” Hadash added.  “This includes the almost two million Palestinians in Gaza. Israel stands warned of any possible aggressive action or collective punishment measures against the Palestinian population in Gaza,” said.

“Our position is clear. We are against violence against civilians in all its forms. Such violence does not advance the Palestinian cause for freedom and independence,” Hadash said in a statement, and announced a new demonstration for social justice, who will be held tomorrow at 4 pm in the northern Arabeh town.