Peres to mediate housing crisis

Less than 24 hours after he met with Medical Association representatives, President Shimon Peres is trying to intervene in the wave of protests which has swept the nation – the housing crisis protests.

Peres is set to meet on Monday with the leaders of the struggle at his official residence in Jerusalem in an attempt to bring the protest to a swift end that would be acceptable to both sides.

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The leaders of the housing crisis struggle will present their demands at the meeting, which was initiated by the President's bureau ahead of talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu's negotiating team. They will also bring the president up to date on their next moves.

"It is very moving to be approached by the president, the moment you receive that kind of appeal, you make yourself available, no questions asked. There is no doubt that a distinguished man with the president's experience has much to contribute to our struggle and point us in the right direction to finding solutions and obtaining our goals," sources among the protest leaders said.

After 150,000 took to the streets on Saturday to participate in mass rallies across the country, organizers of the protest said that the next step is the "Million Man March" – another Facebook event and a page from the Egyptian revolution's playbook. So far, hundreds have said they will attend the September 3 event.

Iranaian coverage

Meanwhile, in Iran, newspapers rushed to criticize Israel for its treatment of protesters. "Media reports claim this is a democracy but unlike other democracies, Israel has no constitution and or bill of rights," the Tehran Times wrote.

"There is also no freedom of expression in Israel. The proof? The Boycott Law that was approved in July."

The Iranian newspaper also claims the IDF is oppressing those protesting against the "construction of the apartheid wall" (the separation fence) and the settlements.

From Tehran Times' coverage of protest 

The paper summed up the article with a small historical error: "The Israeli regime, which fabricated its existence through violence during the Six Day War in 1948 and forced Palestinians to leave their homeland, is now dealing with opposition from within and outside its borders at a time when its allies are losing power and may not be able to come to Israel's aid if needed."

The many media outlets that cover Israel seem to fear the transience of news headlines in the country, and so have made it clear that the spreading popular protest could easily be sidelined due to external events.

Missiles fired from Lebanon on Israel, bombing of the Iranian nuclear reactor, and increasing of international sanctions against Israel in September were all mentioned as possible scenarios that would take any and all protests off the agenda.

Tomer Velmer contributed to this report

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