Peres calls on Israelis to protest in Beit Shemesh
President joins campaign against women's exclusion, says citizens are being tested in saving majority from claws of small minority
President Shimon Peres on Tuesday joined the campaign against women's exclusion and called on the public to take part in a demonstration in Beit Shemesh. "Today the people as well as the police officers are being tested, " he said during a meeting of Israeli ambassadors.
"The religious, the secular, the traditionalists – we all must defend the nature of the State of Israel in the face of a small group that harms national solidarity." Referring to haredi radicals he said, "They are not the masters of the earth."
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Peres said, "We saw yesterday how the officers fight for basic equality in Beit Shemesh on behalf of the entire country. If they value women so much, let them move to the other sidewalk. No one has the right to raise a had or threaten any girl or woman. We are all citizens."
The president said that the burden cannot fall on the police's shoulders alone. "Today is a test for our nation to save the majority from the claws of a small minority who gnaws at the foundations of demcracy."
Addressing the Iranian issue he said, "It is a great danger but it's no reason to get hysterical. Israel has real or perceived capabilities which contribute to our deterrence, like Dimona. Let the others think we have the answer, even for Iran. We have no interest in turning Iran into an Israeli monopoly, as it poses a danger to the entire world, not just us - that can be left to our friend America."
The president also discussed Israel's foreign policy. "All of the world's governments have become weaker. The main reason is because the control over the economy was taken from them. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg changed the world. He even caused revolutions. "
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