The protests in Israel struggle against the high living costs, failed socio-economic policies, and deteriorating public services have been gaining momentum over the last several months. Different types of rallies, demonstrations, and clashes with the police have been organized by an ever-broadening social coalition in the country.
This article will provide an overview of what’s been driving the protests and how they’ve evolved so far, while also looking at the main issues around which protesters are mobilizing and what the impact of their actions might be.
Background: Understanding the Context
To understand why these protests have been taking place, it is important to look at the socio-economic context in Israel. The past year has seen a pandemic-induced economic crisis which has been especially hard hitting for poor and middle-class Israelis already struggling with high levels of inequality and an ongoing housing crisis. This has been compounded by the fact that the Israeli government, run by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had already been facing numerous charges of corruption and mismanagement.
Additionally, people feel that the country’s leadership has been neglecting other important issues such as the Palestinian-Israel conflict and the high cost of living. This has created a crisis of trust in the government and pushed people to take action.
The Rise of the Protests
The protests started in July 2020 when a small movement known as ‘Itzik Lives in Dignity’, which is composed of renters’ union members, organized the first rally in Tel Aviv. The cause was the fight against exploitative rental practices, with the protesters calling on the government to introduce rent control legislation that would protect tenants from unscrupulous landlords.
This initial rally was followed by numerous other peaceful gatherings over the following months, with the movement’s fight for tenants’ rights forming just one element of the broader wave of protests that have been taking place.
The Issues Uniting the Protests
The protests have been composed of different social groups and movements, uniting citizens from all walks of life in the push for fairer socio-economic policies. The major issues around which the protesters have been mobilizing include:
• High Costs of Living: Protesters are calling for the government to tackle rising prices of food, gas, and electricity, as well as to ensure more affordable housing.
• Health Care: Demonstrators are citing the government’s failure to provide adequate levels of public healthcare and medical care as one of the most pressing issues at the heart of the protests.
• Discrimination: In addition to socio-economic problems, some activists are also rallying against discrimination and inequality, particularly concerning minority groups.
• Corruption: Another of the causes of the protests has been the high-level of political corruption and mismanagement that has become widespread in Israel.
Organizers, Leaders, and Violence
The protests have been organized by a variety of social movement, labor unions, and non-profits. A small group of activists have been leading the movement, while prominent social figures have also been involved, including Israeli MKs such as Tamar Zandberg of the left-wing Meretz party, and Ofer Shelah of the center-left Yesh Atid party.
Some protests have been marred by sporadic instances of violence, both between demonstrators and the police, and within the crowds. There has also been a heightened presence of right-wing provocateurs, including some Jewish nationalists, as well as Palestinians who were initially pushing for an end to the occupation.
Reaction from the Government
The government’s initial reaction to the protest movement was to ignore it, but as the demonstrations have grown in intensity and scale, the government’s attitude towards them has changed. Netanyahu has described the protests as “provocative” and “dangerous”, calling for law and order to be maintained by the police.
The Prime Minister has also claimed that the protests are being funded and orchestrated by hostile bodies such as the Palestinian Authority, Iran, and Qatar. The Israeli government has also enacted several measures to try to stop the demonstrations, including banning protests in certain areas and dispersing protesters with water cannons and riot police.
Impact and Future Prospects
The protests have drawn widespread attention with international news outlets reporting on them and rights groups monitoring the situation closely and decrying police violence. The demonstrations have also resulted in several policy changes such as the adoption of a rent-control law and the re-opening of some healthcare centers in the country.
It remains to be seen whether the protests will be able to bring about significant structural changes in the country, or how the Israeli government will respond in the future. However, despite the risks and challenges, the protests show that, even in times of crisis, people can come together to fight for their rights and for a better future.
The protests in Israel are a demonstration of the citizens’ desire for fairer policies and an end to corruption, discrimination, and inequality. The various social movements, labor unions, and activists have joined forces to demand changes on issues such as high costs of living, healthcare, and rent control.
In response, the Israeli government has enacted several measures aimed at curbing the demonstrations and stopped listening to the activists’ demands. Despite the risks and the crackdowns, the protests have nonetheless managed to bring about some positive changes and draw the attention of the international community.
Ultimately, these protests reveal a population that is not prepared to accept politcal inaction and disregard the worsening situation in the country. It remains to be seen whether the protests will succeed in bringing about meaningful and lasting changes.
