JERUSLEM – Israel’s streets witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of public anger, capped by nearly 300,000 citizens joining protests to demand ‘social justice’, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scramble for a solution to calm discontent over rising cost of living.
The unexpectedly large turnout this week in support of the demand that the government address socio-economic issues easily eclipsed any previous such demonstrations in the Jewish state’s history.
Initially, Netanyahu’s aides reportedly dismissed the protesters, saying they had come out to witness performances by leading musicians, but the unexpectedly huge numbers across the country has pushed the government on the backfoot.
Though the government does not face any immediate threat of being dislodged, the wave of protests during the last three weeks has underscored the potential electoral impact of a burdened middle class rallying under the banner of “social justice”.
Bowing to the protesters, Netanyahu, announced at the weekly cabinet meeting the appointment of a committee of experts to propose social-economic reform.
