- The Media Line - https://themedialine.org -

Economics Bring Israelis into the Streets

After watching its Mideast neighbors pour into the streets to protest government policies over the past six months, Israelis are following suit. The ostensible issue-at-hand is a shortage of affordable housing, but the broader undercurrent is the growing gap between the “haves and have-nots.” Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who is facing what is arguably his most turbulent time since he took office 27-months ago, is battling the growing phenomenon of Israeli “Hoovervilles” (Bibi-Bungalows?) – tent cities erected to underscore the plight of young families unable to find places to live. New polling shows strong popular support for the housing protests and a strong belief that the prime minister has not adequately responded to the problem. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is also under intense public scorn with many calling for his dismissal. A doctors’ strike is also ongoing and it, too, commands the support of 85% of the people, according to a poll released on Monday by the daily Haaretz. The intensifying protests are cited as the reason Netanyahu called off a visit to Poland set for this week.