Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz visited Tel Aviv's "tent city" on Tuesday, only to be welcomed with harsh criticism from the protesters.
"The (current) government has been in power for two years and hasn't moved in any direction," one of the students, Oren Pasternack, told Katz.
When the activists slammed the national housing committees bill, the minister remarked that "It appears that the bill has to be amended."
- He later noted: "You have raised an amazing flag, and just because you raised it, the possibility of change has been created during the current government's term, and not just through elections."
Katz, who arrived on Rothschild Boulevard accompanied by body guards, listened to the activists' grievances over the high cost of living but largely avoided answering questions.
Katz at 'tent city' (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
When faced with complaints about Israel's public transportation, he said: "When I make a decision, I carry it out. I am also working on a light rail."
"Next month we will launch a direct line from Tel Aviv to Bat Yam, Holon and Rishon Letzion, and the following month a train to Yavne will be operational," he added. "We are now building this train system, and I'm working on it, but it takes time. Within four years, this will be a different country."
Another issue addressed by the protesters was the rising diesel fuel prices. A representative of the disabled population told Katz: "These are our legs, but for 10 years we have been tricked. The disabled population has been deceived. We have to get the stipends back, and I want you to accept that."
'We've had enough'
"I think it's important that you came, because you are all disconnected from the people," another protester told the minister. "When it comes to housing, we've had enough due to many governments' actions, but you continue in the exact same direction. CEOs are making NIS 1 million ($283,600) a month while anyone who earned a bachelor's degree from a university makes NIS 6,000 ($1,700) a month and doesn't have the money to make ends meet."
"You must understand that the gap between the people and those standing at the top of the pyramid is what's going to ruin it for you," he added. "The people are tired of it and if you don't understand it, you're in trouble. You cannot deceive everyone all the time, it doesn't work, the people are not stupid."
Guy Zalmanovich, a local social activist, welcomed Katz's visit as well, but added: "You're supposed to compromise, to listen, to be patient, to work together. It's important that we get the social benefits in a capitalist society as well. This is a historic moment for the State of Israel, the struggle isn't going to stop, the cause is just."