President Peres meets social team

Government-appointed team tasked with resolving social unrest apprises Peres of work plan. 'This isn’t just another committee, you have a formidable task,' he tells them

Yair Altman|Published: 08.11.11 , 11:08

President Shimon Peres met Thursday with Professor Manuel Trachtenberg and his team of experts, tasked by the government with devising a solution for the growing social unrest.

Prof. Trachtenberg asked for the meeting in order to apprise the president of the team's work plan.

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"First, we ask for your blessing. The task at hand is not just another project by yet another team, but is a double one: We first have to listen to the voices of this protest and then we must find a way to translate it into a professional language which can be propelled into policy and hope. It is a formidable mission," Trachtenberg said.

"I cannot remember the last time any committee faced such a complex task, so your blessing and your insight are very important to us," he told the president.

Peres and Trachtenberg (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)

The social team, Trachtenberg added, "Is facing a very tight schedule. We need to formulate a responsible – albeit rapid – response, because the public rightfully expects to see a practical change."

He added that the team's makeup reflected the need to mesh professional expertise with social sensitivity, "Both of which are crucial to our success."

Peres welcomed the committee: "This is not an ordinary committee. This is not just another patch-up committee. This committee is meant to instate a deep and comprehensive change in Israeli society. Your responsibility knows no end. It's a compelling task."

Peres reiterated his support for the social protest: "The protest is an exemplar of democracy, in that it's non-violent and non-offensive," he said.

Prof. Trachtenberg is expected to submit his findings and recommendations to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September.