Israel police on Saturday night closed Jabotinsky Street in Ramat Gan from East to West following demonstrations near the house of Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom. Hundreds of protesters demonstrated around Energy and Water Minister Shalom’s residence over the government’s intention to approve the export of natural gas from Israel.

After protesting in front of Minister Shalom’s Ramat Gan residence against intentions to export natural gas, protesters arrive at Tel Aviv, surround Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fisjer. Dozens surrounded Fischer, crying out against capitalism, “Where’s our money?” and calling against exporting gas. Police officers at the scene guarded Fischer from the crowd and helped him to his car. Earlier Saturday, dozens were protesting in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu’s house in Caesarea against the neo-liberal government’s economic policy.

The police against social activists, Ramat Gan, May 25 2013 (Photo: Activestills)

MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) declared on weekend that the “Israeli public is waking up and beginning to understand that natural gas, the natural resource that is most important to us for the coming decades is being stolen from us.” According to Megama Yeruka (Green Course) organization, Israeli public would lose 600 billion dollars if the government went ahead with its plans to export the gas money it says would include the quality of life for all citizens.  As companies continue to explore and drill through Israel’s eastern Mediterranean waters, export allowances have become a topic of contention across the country between social activists and capitalists.

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