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Israelis protest in Berlin
Photo: Mati Elmalich
Showing solidarity
Photo: Mati Elmalich

Israel's housing protest reaches Berlin

Dozens of Israelis residing in German capital open social protest's first international branch outside embassy

Some 30 Israelis currently residing in Berlin have set up camp outside the Israeli embassy in the German capital on Monday, in a show of solidarity with housing protesters in Israel.

  

"We are proud to be Israeli at a time like this," they said after pitching a tent to signify their support.

 

 

The Berlin tent is the first housing protest's international branch, after dozens of tents were set up across Israel in the past couple of weeks . 

 

"I saw the Facebook group that was opened, just like for any good protest, so I came to express my solidarity," said Zach Goldberger, an Israeli residing in Berlin.   


Outside Israeli Embassy in Berlin (Photo: Mati Elmalich)

 

The Israelis protested outside the embassy and carried signs challenging the high cost of living and rising housing prices in Israel. According to them, these reasons led them to leave Israel.

  

"Many Israelis moved to Berlin simply because the cost of living is cheaper here than in Israel. The apartment prices are also lower in Berlin than they are in Tel Aviv," Goldberger explains.

  

He insists that the Berlin protest was a peaceful one, but says that the living costs in Israel must become more affordable.  

 

"This protest can happen anywhere around the world where there are Israelis. I feel proud being an Israeli at this time," he adds. 

 

Israeli ambassador to Germany, Yoram Ben-Zeev, stepped out of the embassy during the rally and talked to the protesters.  

 

"He told us that it's very nice that we're protesting because his sons were also demonstrating

in Israel," a protester said.  

 

Goldberger says that the ambassador also suggested that, "if we want to identify with the protests in Israel, maybe you should go and identify with them in Israel." 

 

"We asked him to buy us tickets, but he said he's not sure about that," Goldberger jokes.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.02.11, 01:03
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