Social protest leader released from custody
Stav Shaffir accuses police of deliberately arresting key activists during southern Tel Aviv housing protest. 'We did cause disturbances, but used no violence,' she says
"It's unclear why I was arrested, just like it's unclear why others were arrested," she said after being released. "When we met at the detention cell it was clear that we're all key activists and that they specifically selected us."
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Shaffir added that the protestors did not act violently. "We did block a road and cause disturbances, but we were protesting an illegal matter: The evacuation of homeless people from the only roof they have over their heads at the moment – a tent.
"The police, on the other hand, were extremely violent. We were protesting the fact that the public housing funds have disappeared and that this very important service has been shelved."
Addressing the moment of the arrest, she said: "The footage showing me drumming and being arrested by a policeman a second later says it all."
Shaffir was one of 27 people detained by the police at the Tikva neighborhood following clashes between protestors and police officers. Two of them were taken to court for a remand hearing on Sunday morning. The rest were released with restrictive conditions.
"We planned to take part in a protest organized by the periphery forum, sleep in the protest tent and try to prevent its evacuation in the morning," Shaffir said.
"This evacuation took the tent dwellers by complete surprise. We all gathered and decided to bring activists to sleep there in order to express our solidarity and hold a spontaneous protest. This tent has become an important symbol of our struggle."
'This hypocrisy makes me sick'
Turning to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, Shaffir said: "You should be ashamed of yourself. Nothing more should be said. The fact that he and the municipality are presenting the evacuation as caring for the poor citizens who are outside – what kind of concern is putting them on a bench? This hypocrisy makes me sick.
"What we saw last night was a show of solidarity with homeless people by people who have a home, and every such act is another good step toward a better country. Everyone trying to stop this thing is only harming the future of Israeli society."
The protestors arrived at the Tikva neighborhood encampment to demand that the municipality avoid evacuating single mothers, children and homeless people who have been living there for the past six months.
The municipality demanded that the encampment dwellers leave by 10 am Sunday, saying that the decision had been backed by the court.
Housing protest leader, Daphni Leef, said she could not have thought of a better way to celebrate her 26th birthday, as she spoke before the crowd. "I'm hopeful that tomorrow someone will show compassion and stop this thing. The situation has become unbearable," she stated.
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