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  • It Started With Cottage Cheese

    Social activists: The revolution is here

    Leaders of housing protest turned mass social protest list their demands from government, warn 'high cost of living is a symptom of a deep and dangerous fracture in society'

    Naama Cohen-Friedman
    Published: 07.30.11, 23:37 / Israel News

    Tens of thousands of Israelis participated in mass protest rallies across Israel Saturday night demanding social change and justice.

    Police sources estimated that nearly 150,000 people participated in the protest nationwide.

    Tel Aviv hosted the main protest rally, where leaders of the social protest – which sprouted from a "tent city" erected on Rothschild Boulevard in protest of the lack of affordable housing some two weeks ago – detailed their demands from the government.

    "Two weeks have passed since we have pitched the first tent on the boulevard, and it seems that there are still some people around the government table who just don't understand: The real estate situation and the high cost of living are just symptoms of a deep and dangerous fracture that has spread within our society," activist Daphni Leef, said over the stage.

    "The piggery and egoism have turned into the most prominent features of Israeli existence, but over the past two weeks we discovered that there is another Israeli existence.

    "We have come here today to tell our elected officials in the simplest of terms that the State has a responsibility to its citizens, a responsibility that our elected officials continue to shrug off with a variety of excuses, including supply and demand, a free market and false prosperity."

    The current revolution, she continued, "Is a revolution of awareness: A revolution that causes all citizens understand that we all deserve more; understand that they are allowed to demand more from the government; understand that it is not a luxury to stand for all the rights that we deserve."

    "We do not want to replace the government, we want much more than that – to change the rules of the game and say loud and clear: Social services are rights, not commodities."

    Speaking of the protest movement's primary cause, affordable housing, Leef said that "A home is not just real estate. The State must intervene immediately in the housing market in order to protect us, the citizens. We demand fair housing for everyone. Public housing is not a swear-word."

    Leef went on to say that the State must regulate rent prices and conditions.

    Setting sights on more than housing

    Activists also demands changes in the education system: "A School is not a business. Israeli governments, past and present, have altogether dismissed their responsibility for future generations," activist Jonathan Levy told the crowds.

    "We demand an equal, public education system in the periphery and the center of the country… We demand free public education for children of all ages, and aid for university students who need it. Instead of creating equal opportunities, the education system perpetuates the gap between the different classes – and there are no differences between us – look at what's happing in Israel tonight!"

    Activist Stave Shafir spoke of the demand for better health services: "Who would have thought that in 2011 we would have to fight for basic rights like proper medical services? How would you call a country where part of the population has premium health services, while the others are abandoned? What would you think about a country where the place where a person lives determines his life expectancy?"

    "We sympathize with the doctors' struggle, and demand additional hospital beds, manpower and equipment. The State invests so much in security, but ignores the number of people who die from the staff shortage, drug shortage or senseless burnout… The revolutions has begun, it's here!" she concluded.

    Activist Regev Contes addressed the protesters demand for better social services: "The State systematically avoids providing basic social services. It must care for the citizens' wellbeing, especially those whose jobs are to protect us. It's inconceivable that social workers need social workers themselves.

    "Social services are not an obstacle standing in the way of a free market; they are what helps it prosper."

    'World order about to change'

    Meanwhile, protesters in Jerusalem said they are gearing for a prolonged battle for their cause. Ofer Berkowitz, one of the leaders of the Jerusalem protest, said: "We'll see the entire country on the streets with us.

    "We won't stop until all of our demands for affordable housing are met and until the prime minister presents a comprehensive solution for problems in the health, education and social welfare systems. Now that the people have the power, the world order is about to change," he said.

    Itai Gutler, head of the Hebrew University Student Union, told Ynet that "In the next few days we will paralyze the country. We will have half a million people out there."

    Rachel Azariya, a Jerusalem councilwoman added: "We will keep fighting for the future nature of the State of Israel. We will demand the State be held responsible for social issues."

    "We won't be discouraged," Kobi Frige, a Jerusalem protest activist, said. "If Netanyahu doesn’t listen he'll go home. Any political leader that fails to speak the social language will see his downfall."
    Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

  • #2
    The Israeli version of the Arab Spring?

    It started a while back, 100,000 people on Facebook decided to not buy cottage cheese in order to lower it's price. The doctors and interns have been protesting for a good couple months already, and before that the government social workers were on strike. A little over 2 weeks ago Daphni Leef moved out of her apartment and into a tent in the middle of the street in Tel Aviv. Since then tent cities have sprung up all over Israel, and last night 150,000 people rallied against the artificially inflated housing prices and demanded affordable housing. Affordable housing is defined as housing that can be afforded on 30% of one's monthly salary, whether it be a rental or a mortgage.

    Unfortunately, affordable housing is nothing more than a pipe dream here. I have a pair of friends that both make above average salary and just moved back in with his parents because they can't close the month in the black. One of the main problems is that apartments are being sold to people from overseas that are looking for vacation apartments and sit empty for 10 months out of the year. Another problem is that contractors see the ever increasing prices for apartments and offer new apartments for ever increasing prices. This A) creates a bubble that is going to burst, and probably burst quite soon, and B) means that even though new apartment buildings are going up, the 21-34 demographic (the main protest group) just can't afford to buy or even rent in them.

    Now, to top it all off, to get a mortgage in the country, you need to be able to put anywhere from 30+% down payment. People are up in mortgage for over 30 years and still don't own property. When you add in the fact that the INF that owns most of the land doesn't actually sell land, rather leases it out for 99 years leads to the conclusion that no matter how hard a young couple tries it is almost impossible to live respectfully and honorably in this country. Not anymore, though. Last week the rally was approximately 20,000 people in Tel Aviv. Last night's rally was 150,000 people all over the country. 60,000 in tel aviv, 15,000 and Jerusalem, 15,000 in Haifa, with rallies in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ra'anana, Kiryat Shmona, Modi'in, Hod Hasharon and many other places.

    The only question remaining left to be answered is what will Netanyahu do in return?
    Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

    Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
      Unfortunately, affordable housing is nothing more than a pipe dream here. I have a pair of friends that both make above average salary and just moved back in with his parents because they can't close the month in the black.
      How far out of the city does it become affordable ?

      Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
      One of the main problems is that apartments are being sold to people from overseas that are looking for vacation apartments and sit empty for 10 months out of the year.
      Was watching a French program the other day and they said this problem was common in Paris. The owners want to maximise their return, tennants say they can't find housing. The returns were crazy, 800 euro per month for a regular rental vs 500 euro per week for a holiday home. Its actually quasi-legal to do this in Paris but cases move very slowly in the courts.

      Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
      Another problem is that contractors see the ever increasing prices for apartments and offer new apartments for ever increasing prices. This A) creates a bubble that is going to burst, and probably burst quite soon, and B) means that even though new apartment buildings are going up, the 21-34 demographic (the main protest group) just can't afford to buy or even rent in them.
      I'm surprised you still have a bubble going, the bubble here burst soon after the 2008 crisis. Selling prices dropped by as much as half if not more in some areas. mostly the areas near the city centre, the drop was less within the city.

      Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
      Now, to top it all off, to get a mortgage in the country, you need to be able to put anywhere from 30+% down payment. People are up in mortgage for over 30 years and still don't own property. When you add in the fact that the INF that owns most of the land doesn't actually sell land, rather leases it out for 99 years leads to the conclusion that no matter how hard a young couple tries it is almost impossible to live respectfully and honorably in this country.
      Ah, the lease hold vs freehold thing. Leases are common in London but not so much elsewhere. Its interesting you add honour & respect to this. With a freehold at least your generations can benefit, there is a notion of ancestral property, roots of sorts. Whereas with a leasehold its every generation starts from scratch, yeah you can sell it after the lease is up but you never ever truly own anything. When i mentioned this to Brits most just shrug it off, thats the way it is in London. They've started doing the same thing here of late as well, to lower the buying price. Thats the main reason to have a lease hold. Make it more affordable.

      Mumbai is the worst in the country for this, appts are so expensive there, and that is by western stds, that pretty much everybody rents, for life. Or buys in the burbs far out from the city. I'd never want to live in mumbai for pretty much the reasons you mentioned Ben.

      Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
      Not anymore, though. Last week the rally was approximately 20,000 people in Tel Aviv. Last night's rally was 150,000 people all over the country. 60,000 in tel aviv, 15,000 and Jerusalem, 15,000 in Haifa, with rallies in Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ra'anana, Kiryat Shmona, Modi'in, Hod Hasharon and many other places.

      The only question remaining left to be answered is what will Netanyahu do in return?
      Start building upwards like manhattan.

      Rent control ? That will absolutley kill the real estate market. And will actually worsen the problem. Because ppl won't give their places out if the state forces them to let. It used to be the case here before the reforms in the 90s. Land had no value in those days.

      You're going to NYC soon, they still have rent controlled and rent stabilised appts there. Sometimes i wonder whether NYC really is the bastion of capitalism as its touted to be with all the labour unions they have controlling that city.

      Comment


      • #4
        LOL, You can have all the Cottage cheese you want. Blah! nasty stuff it is.
        Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

        Comment


        • #5
          I kinda agree with you, but cottage cheese actually is almost a staple here, due to the kibbutz background
          Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

          Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by bigross86 View Post
            I kinda agree with you, but cottage cheese actually is almost a staple here, due to the kibbutz background
            Hmm, no wonder why most of those lovlely's have such nice figures.
            Last edited by Dreadnought; 01 Aug 11,, 21:09.
            Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Dorian
              Thanks for sharing information.
              It is good project of real estate and distinguish to other project. In this project unique qualities are added. It is wonder ful work.
              Welcome to WAB Dorian. Please create a thread in the intro forum and tell us a little about yourself. Thank you. :)

              Comment


              • #8
                Just saw 300,000 protesting against standard of living on the news today.

                bigross86, were you there?
                “the misery of being exploited by capitalists is nothing compared to the misery of not being exploited at all” -- Joan Robinson

                Comment


                • #9
                  Well, I was at the first couple rallies, including the 150,000 person rally last weekend, but I'm in NY at the moment, kind of hard to rally in Tel Aviv while in New York. I'm going to be back there for the million man march in September, though
                  Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

                  Abusing Yellow is meant to be a labor of love, not something you sell to the highest bidder.

                  Comment

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