Social activists gear up for mass rally

Protest leaders prepare for demonstrations on Saturday across Israel, turning up the heat following government announcement of electricity price hike. Daphni Leef: Bibi, I'm tired but infuriated

Boaz Fyler|Published: 10.25.11 , 13:06

After being put on the back burner for the past few weeks, the social protest is slowly turning up the heat following the recent electricity price hike announced by Israel's government.

Social activists have already begun planning mass demonstrations set to take place this Saturday. In a press conference on Tuesday they slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding to know "how can he sleep at night and wake up smiling?"

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"I feel like people are trying to sideline this protest and I don't understand why I'm in the middle of a survival war against elected representatives," remarked tent protest leader Daphni Leef.

Press conference ahead of social protests (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"We're in the midst of a war of attrition, Bibi. You're looking at a tired woman, but most of all an infuriated woman. You're living at my expense and using me and my people as diving board."

Leef also addressed the global social protests, calling Netanyahu to examine the events taking place in the United States. "It's where your beloved system is centered, this dysfunctional system. It's time you admit your mistakes and understand that your time is running out."

The tent protest activists, joined recently by the medical residents' protest, are planning on holding rallies across Israel this upcoming Saturday, including a mass rally at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square.

"During the summer they did us a favor and instead of a 20% price hike, the government only increased prices by 10%," said Regev Contes, one of the protest leaders. "We were good kids and saved on electricity – and here's our reward: Another price hike. It's absurd. The government is laughing at us."

Another protest leader, Stav Shaffir, added: "The electricity is only part of the wider phenomenon of rising prices." She believes more severe measures should be taken financially, hoping that "Israeli citizens turn off their electricity this Saturday and come out to protest."