47 year-old attempts self-immolation

A 47-year-old man from the southern city of Netivot tried to set himself on fire at city hall on Monday. Security officers on site managed to prevent him from hurting himself.

Earlier on Monday a security guard stopped a resident of Ashdod from setting himself on fire at the local welfare offices.

On Sunday night a 65-year-old resident of Ofakim tried to set himself on fire at the entrance to a police station, but was prevented from doing so by a local policeman. The man was taken to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba for medical treatment.

Israel has seen a wave of attempted self-immolations since social activist Moshe Silman set himself on fire during a protest in Tel Aviv last Saturday night. Silman died Friday after suffering burns over 94% of his body.

On Sunday Yaakov Mapay, an IDF disabled veteran, set himself on fire, suffering burns on 80 percent of his body. He is currently lying unconscious in Sheba Hospital. The wheelchair bound-vet was reportedly distraught over state bureaucracy.

At least three other people have threatened to light themselves on fire, but were stopped by passersby. Some 60 people called the government social service hotline and threatened suicide in the immediate aftermath of the Silman incident.

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