Eight Israeli social protesters take positions on bridge over Dizengoff Street

Eight young Israelis took positions on a bridge crossing Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street on Wednesday afternoon, standing as though poised to jump in an apparent protest over socioeconomic conditions in the country.

People in the crowd below were urging them not to jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFVVU0O3E7c&feature=plcp

The eight dropped a letter into the growing crowd below that complained about “the situation” in the country in the current Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) period. The Jewish New Year was marked earlier this week.

The eight — six men and two women — drew a growing crowd on the busy street. The bridge they chose for the protest runs across Dizengoff between two sections of the Dizengoff Center shopping mall.

Several Israelis have made very personal protests against perceived socioeconomic injustices in recent months, with a string of self-immolation attempts around the country.

Last month, a man was arrested after trying to light himself on fire at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square. Police took him in for questioning after he was caught pouring flammable material all over his body, apparently prior to igniting himself.

In July, Moshe Silman, a social activist from Haifa, doused his body with flammable liquid and set himself on fire during a social justice rally in Tel Aviv. Silman distributed a letter at the protest, setting out his reasons for taking the extreme action. He blamed various government agencies for failing to provide him with financial aid and housing. Suffering burns over 94% of his body, Silman died a week after lighting himself on fire.

Following in his footsteps were another six or seven self-immolation attempts within a week. Wheelchair-bound IDF veteran Akiva Mafa’i died of his wounds in early August.