Arab Spring or European style discontent? Israel is the latest scene of nationwide mass protests. Thousands are taking part in rallies to demand the government provide cheaper housing, and lower the cost of living. The biggest protest yet, centred in Tel-Aviv, is planned for Saturday night. RT talks to Aziz Abu Sarah, a Palestinian-Israeli journalist.
August 1, 2011
7:44 pm
Not bad, ya Aziz. One can only hope you’re right about the possible effects of the demonstrations.
August 2, 2011
1:57 pm
I like to follow +972. Thank you for sharing this. I need to comment that I find the headline to this inaccurate, misleading, and unrelated to the story. I do not understand why it is described as a “Jewish” Tahrir, when it is not an issue relating to religion. As far as I understand, the people taking part in these protests are not only Jewish, but are made up of people from a cross section of society, reflecting Israel’s multi-cutural, multi-faith population. I would not want to reinforce false perceptions of Israel as only being made up of Jews.
August 2, 2011
1:59 pm
and I do mean for my comments to be constructive – in short, could there not be a more suitable headline?
August 2, 2011
2:54 pm
Anna. Thank you. We actually used the title used by Russia today since they made the interview.
August 2, 2011
7:21 pm
I’d just like to say I agree with Anna’s remarks, though I also understand Aziz’s argument.
Unfortunately, it is also true that Israel defines itself as a ‘Jewish State’, which is unfair to everyone living within its borders, even Jewish people, for State and Religion should not overlap in modern times.
August 3, 2011
11:50 pm
Pedro Silva-
I suggest you tell that to the Arab countries including the Palestinians, IIRC every one of them defines Islam as the state religion and most of which define Sharia Law as a basis, if not THE basis for legislation. Even in the “Arab Spring” countries Egypt and Tunisia, public opinion is pushing for INCREASING Islamization of the legal system and public culture.
August 4, 2011
2:55 am
I think the title that Russia chose represents the “legitimacy” of these rallies as far as the government is concerned. There are non-violent, Kairos oriented rallies and protests every day in Jerusalem that are led by People with an innate desire to better the social justice issues in Israel Palestine. If this title didn’t include the word “Jewish” the tunnel vision president and the rest of his government would have disregarded the protests as anything but another group of non-voting ‘citizens’ trying to achieve something that Israel is trying desperately to deny.. the freedom of life, movement etc.
August 5, 2011
11:51 pm
Good article and analysis, Aziz.
Of course whilst 80% of Israeli’s support this social revolution there needs to be an even bigger revolution on the ground if Israel wants a social revolution to happen and it needs to put the spotlight on its government’s failure to help the Israeli’s who aren’t doing well.
Netanyahu’s government is spending a huge part of its committed finances to building illegal housing in the occupied territories yet the people of Israel, who chose not to occupy illegal territory, are being ignored in favour of a small ideological group whom the government supports. The Settler movement is doing more harm to Israel’s reputation internationally and yet is supported and pampered by the Israeli government whilst huge numbers of Israeli’s cannot make ends meet nor afford housing in a city which many of their ancestor’s created.
That’s why more protests are inevitable.