2011 Israeli social justice protests

The protests in Israel 2011/2012 began in July 2011., The protesters are in favor of social justice, especially for a relaxation in the housing market. Contextual relationships to the events of the Arab Spring have been placed in the room, but they are quite loose; the protests are directed mainly against specific Israeli problems.

• 2.1 demands of the demonstrators
• 2.2 Violent escalation in 2012
• 2.3 Further protests in July and August

Background

Social inequality in the country is higher than in most other Western countries, about a quarter of the population lives below the poverty line. In addition, high cost of living, which often can even hardly be contested by families with two working full-time members. Particularly hard hit are the housing costs, which rose between January 2009 and January 2011 by almost 40 percent, but also the prices of many foods rose much more sharply in recent years than wages. This is among other things attributed to that has arisen in Israel a so-called crony capitalism, since about 60 percent of Israel's economic capital is in the hands of 18 families. Therefore, in Israel there are oligarchic structures through which the food prices can be controlled in particular. This led to the paradoxical situation that Israeli export products (such as olive oil) in Israel are more expensive than in the importing countries.

Already in June 2011, it was after calling the Internet a spontaneous boycott of cottage cheese - which is considered as a staple food in Israel - come, whose price was previously increased by 40 percent within three years. A law passed shortly thereafter, which provides for boycotts against Israeli products under penalty was heavily criticized because it was seen as a symbol of a progressive erosion of democracy in favor of nationalist interests.

In addition, found in 2011 already strikes of several professional groups for better pay and better working conditions instead.

Even the strong support of Israeli settlements in the territories occupied by Israel is viewed critically. For social services, infrastructure construction, military security and other benefits here, according to estimates by an Israeli think tanks spent well over a billion dollars per year, with a budget of nearly 70 billion dollars. A settler received from the State on average twice as much money as a resident of the Israeli heartland, the Israeli politician Haim Ramon said. This is partly explained by the high proportion of ultra-Orthodox Jews among the settlers who spend several years with the study of Torah, all the while not engage in any work. In addition, the birth rate among this population is higher than average, which can grow apart from government payments and settlements.

Reference to the Arab Spring

During the demonstrations in Israel can be mainly attributed to country-specific problems that are very different from the problems in other countries, the demonstrators still refer to the Arab Spring. So in 2011 was about on posters in the tent city in Tel Aviv: " Rothschild is our Tahrir Square ". A co-organizer of the protests, said that people were by the events in Tahrir Square " suddenly realized that the power is in the hands of the people and that you have to take the history of his country into their own hands. "

Development of protests

The protests began on July 14, 2011 in Tel Aviv, after the filmmaker Daphni Leef, the accommodation was terminated and she found no new affordable accommodation. She decided to turn over on the median strip of the Rothschild Boulevards their tent, and wrote on Facebook: "I have no home, can make me not go and demonstrate in a tent on Rothschild Boulevard. Who's coming? " Within a week, joined several hundred protesters, in early August the tent city had reached a length of 1.5 kilometers.

On July 24, 20,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv for affordable housing. Two days later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to create 10,000 places in halls of residence as well as incentives for the construction of 50,000 affordable homes within two years. The demonstrations grew, however, continues to rise, and already on 30 July went nationwide over 100,000 people on the streets. In addition to increasing rents were also other problems such as deterioration of health care and the education system should be addressed. The union Histadrut supported the protesters and announced a general strike. The next day, Netanyahu sat up a team of experts that will deal with the crisis. On 3 August, a law was passed by the Knesset, which should reduce bureaucratic hurdles in building design. The protesters feared that this would promote mainly luxury buildings, but no affordable housing.

In August, the demonstrations grew to 200000-350000 participants and were the largest protest movement for four decades. In addition to Tel Aviv rallies were also held in many other cities. Even Arab Israelis joined the demonstrations.

For the 3rd September, a demonstration under the title of a million march (march of a million ) was announced. This largest demonstration in Israeli history in Tel Aviv 300000-500000 demonstrators took to the streets nationwide, there were another 150,000.

On September 6, distributed the Municipality of Tel Aviv leaflets, after which the tent cities should be evacuated until the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah. Contrary to previous agreements tents have already been removed in the subsequent night of municipal employees and police officers, although many of them were inhabited. The mayor of Tel Aviv replied that there had not demolition, but traded at around cleanup.

In the population, the protests have a very strong backing. One survey by the newspaper Haaretz, according to 87 percent of the Israeli population would support the protests, more than half of respondents were not satisfied with the responses of the government. According to another survey, 85 percent supported themselves the followers of Netanyahu's Likud Party protests.

Demands of the demonstrators

The movement began with the demand for affordable housing, but also more general demands for a reduction in the cost of living and social justice were collected within a short time.

It is seen as problematic that the groups involved form a very broad range of content and therefore does not present a united front in their demands. Ari Shavit explained by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, " is joined by another such social group to the protests, then their claims are simply appended to the others. "

Even political demands, for example after a respectful coexistence with Arabs and the Bedouins, and after the end of settlement activity were expressed on demonstrations. However, the organizers avoid such issues largely because they otherwise fear a collapse of the movement.

Violent escalation in 2012

Protests in Tel Aviv occurred on June 23, 2012 for the first time in violent clashes between police and demonstrators, killing more than 80 people were arrested. The police spoke of an illegal and unauthorized demonstration. Around 6500 people had in the evening in the city center with the motto " Emergency Protest - the power back to the people! " Gathered for a rally, where participants a central traffic artery of Tel Aviv and the city highway blocked. Other participants broke into three bank branches. A day earlier, the police one of the leaders of the protest, Daphni Leef, as well as twelve additional members had been arrested, as they had tried with several hundred other demonstrators set up on the central Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv protest tents.

More protests in July and August

In the second half of July 2012, two Israelis who had lit during the protests themselves died. At the protests, for example, 8,000 people took part on July 15, according to Israeli police said. In early August, the Israeli government decided about the VAT increase, which in turn led to a flare-up of protests.