26 July 2011, + 972 http://972mag.com (Israel)
Dahlia Scheindlin*
A sound and slideshow by Eyal Warshavsky, with national anthem Hatikva as the crescendo, illustrates the powerful sense of a shared national cause emerging from the demonstration last Saturday night.
What began as an outcry over high housing prices is taking on ever-larger dimensions, and Israelis of all stripes have rallied to the cause of economic injustice surrounding a range of issues. In the past, wars and security issues have always been the greatest unifying factor of Israeli identity, but there is a powerful bond forming around the protests that could perhaps even transcend left and right. At the 20,000-or more demonstration last Saturday night, illustrated in Eyal Warshavsky’s sound and slideshow, Israeli flags were prominent, the ubiquitous and repeated rallying cry was “The people want social justice!” and the crowd sang a rousing Hatikva.
Proof of emerging unity was evident this morning in numbers: in a Haaretz survey, when asked if the protest was about genuine distress, or a political stunt to topple the government, 81% said the protests are about real economic woes – and a near-consensus of 87% support the efforts. Is Israel witnessing a shift in the defining national identity that unites its people? Could the economic and social vision of the people become a more inclusive national narrative than the military/security dimension ever was?
Dahlia Scheindlin* is a leading international public opinion analyst and strategic consultant based in Tel Aviv, specializing in progressive causes, political campaigns in many countries, including new/transitional democracies and peace/ conflict research. In Israel, she works for a wide range of local and international organizations dealing with Israeli-Palestinian conflict issues, peacemaking, democracy, religious identity and internal social issues in Israeli society. Dahlia is currently writing her doctoral dissertation in comparative politics at Tel Aviv University. The focus of her research is unrecognized (de facto) states. In the fall of 2010 she will begin teaching at Ben Gurion University. Dahlia writes a monthly column for the Jerusalem Report magazine and is a regular media commentator and guest lecturer.
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