and don;t thing the government does anything well. Protestors are idiots jumping on the stupid act of an stupid man.

violent uprising? Not sure whether he just wanted to be remembered or is actually trying to encourage violence that would result in the deaths of many and not bring about any actual positive change. (Violent revolutions by the masses never have good results) Either way, his choice; he knew what he was doing; no one should think of him as a martyr to look up to and there shouldn't be sympathy so much as pity for this short-sighted act of stupidity.

They turn a tragedy into a political tool. Even if your cause is just your means of advocacy must be decent.

I hoped they had enough self respect not to turn him into some kind of martyr tell us all how Silman died for the protest and it looks like they couldn't resist. Moshe Silman was just another man with money problems and obviously mentally unbalanced because not even the most dedicated protestors go around setting themselves in fire but sadly this lot are trying to turn him into a hero who was thinking rationally when he did that. One thing I would like to know and whats with the white mask that guy is wearing in the picture? Reguarlly see pictures at these protests wearing those masks Tonight should not have been Moshe Silman solidarity night and instead we should have had people out there to mourn for the victims of the bus bombing. They didn't die because they were mentally unbalanced, they were murdered.

A deeply disturbed man in seach of causes and self- validation, egged on by his 'friends,' sets himself on fire and dies. Why not? A young man in Tunesia set himself on fire and started Islamist revolution, so this poor shlomil thinks he will be a revolutionary hero, as well and start a revolution in Israel. Of cause, Israel is not an Arab dictatorship and people vote for the kind of government they want. There will be NO revolution in Israel, none needed, and his death is completely senseless. Sad part is that his 'friends' want to capitalize on his death, in stead of getting him psychiatric help while he was alive.

For all of the issues which confront Israel, for all of the acrimony between disparate groups, I have never felt more revulsion than I do towards the "social activists" They admit now that they were aware of this disturbed and suicidal individual's plight for some time, yet they did nothing to help him or alleviate his hardship. They are now "all Moshe Silman", but what were they weeks ago when this wretched pathetic individual was threatening suicide. Did they take up a collection for their fellow traveller, did they urge him to seek counselling, did they offer any tangible help whatsoever? They have now cynically adopted the late Silman as the poster boy for their cause, he was worthless to them while alive!

Mother,thats Communism,it benefits both,ruler and ruled,the rulers live in their datchas,and the ruled doesn't have to work hard,the ruler provides the minimum needs,the chinese,during Mao,called it the iron bowl,government provides, from cradle to grave, more important,the ruled doesn't have to think,this system of government is very atractive to the majority of Americans, therefore Obama will be elected to a second term,and than president for life,ala cuba,why throw out a good thing ?.but the American people ignore Lenin's statement,that for communism to suxcceed,it needs 3 things,a lot of oil,a lot gold,and a lot of enemies,which country will become the voice of America to communist America ?.

protests. It happened in Myanmar and one other place; possibly Viet Nam or Cambodia around the Viet Nam War, but I don't remember. They actually had good reason though and were often in meditation as they burned. It's somewhat unnerving actually. As for the white Guy Fawkes masks, look up Anonymous. The symbol of the concept known as Anonymous is the Guy Fawkes mask taken from the film, "V for Vendetta".

Impotent officials from top down. Just talk telephone numbers are unaccountable except to their own seats, no viable address for the downtrodden citizen. FACT

and no manipulation of the facts by the Left will change that. Keep in mind - Silman was once wealthy and where was he in the social protests then? And where was the Social Protesters condemnation of him at that time? For the Social Protesters to choose Silman as their poster child means - they have little else.

First, for trying to initiate a violent uprising would would affect so many innocent people who are trying to make a living. In the end, the casualties will be the innocent bystanders, but like the Social Protesters, Silman had his own agenda and that's all. Second, instead of burning himself for his own agenda, Silman could have worked to turn his life around like so many others do when hitting rock bottom. He could have even just volunteered in a soup kitchen - something that would provide a ray of hope to anyone else feeling such despair. Now with this act, all he's done was given an option of self-immolation to those who are feeling hopeless. Whether you scorn him or pity him, what he did was detrimental to society and selfish.

that's why they demand the govt take care of them from cradle to grave, because they can't do it for themselves, or fellow human beings.

FACT.

One should never speak bad of the dead unless they were truly evil. The talkbackers here are entitled to their opinions, but they haven't a shred of moral decency in them for not having shut up abour Silman's horrible death.

The fanatic Leftists dance on Silman's blood, but don't know who the real Silman is. The radio reports that Silman owned a trucking company: he was a "one percenter". For some reason, he suddenly owed Bituach Leumi money that he could not pay. In other words, he could no longer afford to buy Da Fni Le ef cappucinos or subsidize Tel Aviv apartments for Leftists self-styled "artists". The interest was so high, that eventually he had to close his business. His cries for help were ignored by heartless government workers, the same government workers with enormous salaries and pensions, who are unaccountable because they are protected by the extreme-Left Histadrut. If anything, Silman proves that the extreme Left is wrong on every count. Bureacracy should be reduced, and government unions weakened so that workers will be accountable. Taxes should be reduced and small businessmen (sneered at as " "one-percenters" by the Leftists) should be protected.

for his self-immolation. That is very much part of the equation if you want to apportion blame.

How are you dear ?

Israelis are experts at shafting each other and then blaming the government..Learn from the African refugees in Tel Aviv who have learnt how to beat the shaftings by Israelis, and now look after each other, and at present are shafting Israelis with their business etiquette ,morals,community life etc..

it seems most who commented , feel a threat or discomfort from the protest with little or no sympathy for hardship suffered by the protestors and far too many in Israel. It is right to protest the gross injustice in Israel's society magnified by an unprincipled and corrupt government Protestors are badly led, demonstratie to punch air instead of identifying speciphic examples leading to injustice

Unbelievable...glorifying suicide! These leftist, socialistic liberals are disgusting; so, are the idiots who throw away the precious gift of life. It's a shame, there are many people fighting for life everyday (a brother of mine is fighting stage-4 cancer); then, you have goofballs like this clown who, so willingly, discards something that so many want...and, can't have--so sad!!!

Your excellent comment reflects my opinion. Moshe S. was his own victim and also the victim of the lack of solidarity of the movement he participated in.

Do people set fire to themselves if they are not mentally unbalanced? How many people are there in the world with financial problems and how many set themselves on fire as a protest measure?

The protestors have no specific agenda. As Norbus (#20) wrote, they demonstrate just to punch air. So, now they make a big deal of Mr. Silman's suicide as if it was a righteous thing to do. They martyr a man whom they should have helped when he was alive. But no, truly helping others is not what they are about. They are about George Soros and his New Israel Fund. Bunch of disruptive tools with no real agenda other than to create mayhem.

They stood aside and let him burn himself to death and now they want to profit from using him as a symbol. Will you murder and also inherit?

I am a tax paying Israeli living in Tel Aviv with my wife and daughter. We OBJECT to anarchists messing up our streets and disturbing the peace as do many other Tel Avivim like us. You don't speak for us, you're cause is not 100% right. Prices are too high but your anarchistic approach is not the way to protest. When I was a poor student I lived in the cheaper suburbs not

William, do not be so quick to judge another. It is said in Pirkey Avot, do not judge another until you have been in his place. In this case, it is obvious, that you or anyone else should ever put yourself in his shoes/place. It was his decision. What is left for us to do is everything possible to prevent similar occurrences, and it sounds according to the protestors' words that that is what they are doing.

on this plannet got finnacial problems it doesn't mean people should kill themselves.