Tel Aviv: After weeks of protests against rising prices and poor living standards, Israeli activists have announced more extensive rallies in more cities. “If by Saturday evening, the prime minister has failed to meet with our secretary general Ofer Eini to discuss solutions to lift this social crisis, Histadrut will use all means at our disposal to support the demands of the protesters,” a spokeswoman for the powerful Histadrut union said on Thursday.The demonstrators have said they can no longer afford sky-rocketing home prices. Housing prices in past years have inflated by about 50 percent in Israel.
Additionally, the demonstrations have also called on the regime to curb rising fuel prices as well as the costs of food and healthcare.
According to reports, many have been arrested during the demonstrations.
On Thursday morning, several protesters occupied the roof of the Tel Aviv stock exchange in what one of them termed a “symbolic gesture” against the handling of the economy by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Ten big companies control 80 percent of the stock market and take all the fruits of the growth in the national economy,” one of the protestors said.
The demonstrations began in mid-July as a young movement made up of university students calling for affordable housing.
However, the demonstrations now include young professionals, young couples, and even the elderly, all demanding a decent living.
