Updated on
Summary Protests against high housing prices have entered third week with no signs of success.
Young Israelis in the city of Tel Aviv chose to camp out on the leafy Rothschild Boulevard in a makeshift tent encampment rather than work in their office. They left their apartments which they called over-priced and came to live on the streets with their refrigerators, couches and televisions.Across the road, a typical flat sells for $10,000 per square meter, which is five times more than their average monthly salary.Demonstrators in 10 other cities did so as well, making it the largest protest in recent Israeli history.In Jerusalem, thousands marched to the prime ministers residence, demanding immediate action taken to tackle growing issues, including economic disparity.The demonstrations were well coordinated and planned, with organizers working with police to gain special permissions for such a large gathering and cordoning-off area. There were a few minor scuffles and some arrests by police, as a small number of protesters blocked the access roads. But for the most part overall, the demonstration has been peaceful.However, things are heating up, not just because Israel is entering its hottest summer month, but also because the protesters are growing in number.One of the protesters biggest problems is the lack of clear leadership. As more and more groups join the cause, the direction seems to scatter, making it difficult for the Israeli government to know exactly what to do.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently ruling Likud party has never won an election based on social issues. And his strength and voter base stem from security issues, thus some fear that if the Israeli leader cannot popularly deal with this crisis, hell create one that he can.
