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Struggling to survive. Elderly citizens protest
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Elderly citizens protest price-hike

Hundreds gather in Jerusalem under banner 'fighting over water, bread.' Pensioners association claims price increase led to additional expense of NIS 300 per month. 'I feel that this government hates its elderly,' says participant

Some 1,000 elderly citizens protested on Sunday outside the Prime Minister's Office, while Benjamin Netanyahu was holding his weekly cabinet meeting.

 

The elderly are protesting the increase in consumer prices, which has led to an additional expense of NIS 300 (about $82) per family per month, according to the pensioners association.

 

The protesters carried signs that read, "The treasury is the pensioners' enemy", "Do not cast me off in the time of old age" and "Prices are getting higher – life is getting shorter." They also held cups of water while blowing whistles.

 

One of the protestors, 65-year-old Maya Krimen, who made aliya from Russia, told Ynet, "I get a pension of NIS 2,700 (about $738) a month. I spend around NIS 1,000 ($273) on my apartment, and am forced to make do with NIS 1,700 ($464).

 

Some 1,000 protesters gathered in J'lem (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

 

"It is not enough for medicine and food, so I buy and collect second hand items at the market. I feel as though I am not a human being," Krimen lamented.

 

Shai Boaz, a former El-Al employee added, "I feel that this government hates its citizens and elderly population."

 

Head of the pensioners' association Gideon Ben-Israel said, "Prices are rising on a daily basis, to the point where pensioners are finding it hard to survive. Pensioners can't deal with price-hikes; we have unique needs and problems, such as the need for medicine.

 

"I turn to Prime Minister Netanyahu's father – don’t let your son continue to abuse the elderly," Ben-Israel added.

 

The prime minister's father, Benzion Netanyahu, will turn 101-years-old next month.

 

Former Minister Avishai Braverman, who came to show solidarity with the protesters, said, "You built this country and now it is only supporting the rich. Today we have two groups who are struggling – the young people and the pensioners who both want to live in a just socio-economic state."

 

Meanwhile, during the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu called on the ministers to interview more frequently in media outlets, in an effort "to present the government's achievements to the public.

 

"Some governments talk the talk and don't walk the walk, but this government walks the walk but doesn’t talk the talk," he said.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.27.11, 14:13
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