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Manuel Trachtenberg
Photo: Yaron Brener

Trachtenberg visits TA 'tent city'

Head of PM-appointed social team pays surprise visit to Rothschild Boulevard, holds impromptu consultation with protesters

Professor Manuel Trachtenberg, head of the government-appointed team tasked with resolving the growing social unrest, paid an unexpected visit to the dwellers of Rothschild Boulevard's "tent city" in Tel Aviv.

 

Trachtenberg's visit came on the heels of Saturday's protest, which saw tens of thousands gather in various rallies in the periphery, in demand for social change.

 

 

"We were very surprised by this visit," one of Rothschild Boulevard's "tent city" protesters told Ynet.

 

Trachtenberg met with several of the protesters and held an impromptu round-table consultation with them. 


Impromptu consultation. Trachtenberg (Photo: Yaron Brener)

 

He told those gathered at the impromptu meet: "I grew up in Argentina with the endless reality of protests, in a failing economy; you are very lucky that you are not in that situation.

 

"What surprised me all these years is that Israel's youth has no political awareness and I have now discovered through these protests that there is political awareness, that people are in fact waking up and I won't mould your reality, you need to mould it, I can just help you do it. "

 

He then added: "It is no simple task to present resolutions to major issues before a committee within six weeks….These six weeks will be critical to the future of the State of Israel.

 

"You need to supervise to make sure that the things will be implemented, I can just help in making sure things are executed…This is just the opening shot, the real action is in a succession of political involvement."

 

Meanwhile, those present at the meeting with Trachtenberg were for the most part pleased with his statements: "I am very satisfied, the meeting was part of the process," said attorney Dor Nahman one of the leaders of the Kikar HaMedina protest.

 

"We want to see a systematic change I am very satisfied with what I saw here on a number of levels; first of all that 40 people sat down in a circle to talk, listen and try to make a difference and I think that the spirit of the open conversation can bring change," said Gil Morseano one of the Kikar HaMedina protestors.

 

Leaders of the social protest were skeptic as to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's teams possible effectiveness in devising and advancing social change.

 

Nevertheless, Trachtenberg has repeatedly said that the team – comprised of various financial experts – was "different from other teams. We're aware of social sensitivities."

 

Attila Somfalvi and Yoav Malka contributed to this report

 

 

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.14.11, 22:44
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