Growing anger over the cost of living, an unprecedented 200,000 Israelis took part in nationwide protests….

Growing anger over the cost of living, an unprecedented 200,000 Israelis took part in nationwide protests….


Israel PM promises change after massive protests

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday promised change as he tried to ease growing anger over the cost of living after an unprecedented number of Israelis took part in nationwide protests.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday promised change as he tried to ease growing anger over the cost of living after an unprecedented number of Israelis took part in nationwide protests.

Speaking before a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu acknowledged the frustration of the more than 250,000 people who took to the streets on Saturday night to demand cheaper housing, education and health care.

"We can't ignore the magnitude of the social protests," he said.

"We know that we need to make changes and we will do so, showing ourselves to be responsible and responsive to the demands," he added in remarks broadcast on public radio.

"We want to establish a real dialogue and hear from everyone who can propose solutions, even if we cannot meet all the demands," he said.

Netanyahu said he was establishing "a special team" headed by prominent economist Manuel Trachtenberg, the head of Israel's National Council for Higher Education.

"I have mixed feelings about being tasked with this mission, because changes are imperative, but the responsibilities and the risks are enormous," Trachtenberg told Israeli radio.

It was unclear whether the appointment of another committee, the second Netanyahu has proposed to establish to examine protesters' demands, would ease the frustration that drew so many into the streets.

The turnout, believed to be the biggest for protests over any social issue in Israel's history, showed the staying power and broad appeal of a movement that began in mid-July over the cost of housing and has quickly mushroomed.

In Tel Aviv alone, commercial capital of a country of 7.7 million, an estimated 200,000 people were in the streets, many chanting "the people want social justice" and "the people against the government."

Police said another 30,000 protested in Jerusalem, with 20,000 taking part in demonstrations in towns ranging from Kiryat Shmona in the north to the southern cities of the Negev desert.

Netanyahu has already said he takes the protests seriously and will work to implement reforms, but he has warned against the sweeping measures favoured by many protesters, saying they could plunge Israeli into financial crisis.

And he has appeared at times to have been caught short by the size and appeal of the demonstrations, which were first dismissed by his right-wing Likud party colleagues.

Protesters have accused him of failing to take their demands seriously, and were infuriated by his support for legislation easing regulations for building contractors that parliament passed before its summer recess.

Netanyahu says the legislation will address protesters' demands by flooding the market with housing and bringing down prices, but activists say it will merely encourage the construction of luxury apartments.

They also say the government has failed to understand the breadth of the reforms they seek, which has grown to include lower taxes, an expansion of free education, lower medical costs and a break-up of monopolies.

Israel's media has largely thrown its support behind the protesters, with commentators in Haaretz newspaper on Sunday describing the movement as a revolution.

"With emotion but great order, the masses marched through the city shouting 'revolution'," wrote Yair Ettinger. "Is this rebellion here to stay? Will it die out? For the time being it's only picking up strength."

In top-selling Yediot Aharonot, Sima Kadmon called the protests "the largest demonstration of no confidence in the history of Israel."

Israel Hayom, a paper considered close to the prime minister, offered a lone voice of caution, warning that any reforms should be made "with utmost responsibility."