Tens of thousands marched in Tel Aviv in protest against the housing shortage: 'Bibi go home'

24 july 2011, Communist Party of Israel המפלגה הקומוניסטית הישראלית http://maki.org.il

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched yesterday (Saturday night) in central Tel Aviv as part of a large-scale protest movement against the housing shortage and high rent prices in Israel. One of the protest organizer, Yigal Rambam, addressed the prime minister directly in his speech, saying: "Mr. Netanyahu, we shall have to part as friends, we're parting ways; you're fired!" Meanwhile, those in attendance were chanting "Bibi go home."

43 demonstrators were arrested by police after they blocked the intersection of Kaplan and Ibn Gvirol streets and Dizzengoff street in central Tel Aviv after the mass rally. Following the rally, thousands of activists blocked several streets. Mounted police clashed with the protesters and used smoke and gas grenades.

The beginning of the protest yesterday 9:00 p.m at Habima square (Photo: Activestills)
The protest was an extension of the "tent cities" which have sprouted up across the country as part of an organized effort led by a cross-section of Israeli society - including the working class, young people, students, Holocaust survivors, and the elderly. The demonstrators marched from the tent city on Rothschild Boulevard toward the Tel Aviv Museum, where they heard speeches from various protest leaders calling on the government find a sustainable solution to the housing crisis.

Protestors carrying hundreds of Hadash signs like "People before profits", "Netanyahu go home" and Israeli and red flags began to gather at Habima Square Saturday evening, where hundreds of tents had been set up in protest in the past week. The head of the protest, Dapni Leef, led the march alongside elderly Israelis and Holocaust survivors expressing their support for the protesters.

During the march, demonstrators yelled slogans such as "proper housing, legitimate prices", "the power is with the citizen", and "this generation demands housing". Most of the marchers called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation. Several Knesset members, including the chairman of Hadash (Democratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel), Muhammad Barakeh , MK Dov Khenin (Hadash), former MK Tamar Gozansky (Hadash), Ilan Gilon (Meretz), Nino Abesadze (Kadima), and Rachel Adato (Kadima), Hadash secretary Ayman Odeh as members of the Communist Party of Israel Central Committee could be found among the demonstrators.
"I'm proud of the vast number of participants, especially the young people who give me great hope for real change," MK Barakeh said. He added that he hoped that the demonstration marked "the beginning of a process to replace the current government with a government that is socially sensitive and has a perception of true peace." MK Khenin added: "It's the largest social demonstration in years, people from around country march from Habima Square to Tel Aviv Museum, chanting 'we want social justice, not charity' and 'Bibi go home'"

Meanwhile, doctors and medical interns were also protesting in the city after a 110-day strike that has not yet led to a breakthrough in negotiations with the government. A large group of dairy farmers also joined the housing protestors with signs slamming dairy product prices and government inaction on the issue.