2,000 march in solidarity with Moshe Silman, who set himself alight at Tel Aviv protest

Some 2,000 people took part in a demonstration march in Tel Aviv Sunday evening to express solidarity with Moshe Silman, who set fire to himself during a social justice protest on Saturday.

The protesters blocked main roads, including the Ayalon highway, and hurled eggs at the National Insurance Institute office building, while chanting “We are all Moshe Silman.” Police stood by observing and let the demonstration take its course.

The rally dispersed when the marchers reached the central train station, where some social justice activists have been camping out to protest government financial policies. Police cleared demonstrators from the Ayalon freeway shortly after midnight.

As protests died down, anonymous vandals tried to torch the entrance of the National Insurance Institute building in Ramat Gan, causing damage to the doorway. They also spray-painted graffiti reading “Price tag for Moshe Silman” on the edifice.

Police opened an investigation, but no arrests were made.

Silman’s condition continued to be described as critical Sunday night, as he lay unconscious in Tel Aviv’s Sheba Hospital suffering from third-degree burns to 90 percent of his body.

The 57-year-old Haifa man set himself on fire after reading aloud and distributing a suicide note. He had lost his business and property due to unpaid fines he owed to the National Insurance Institute, and had also suffered a stroke.

In his suicide note Silman wrote: “The State of Israel robbed me of everything and left me with nothing.” Statements from acquaintances indicated that he had threatened to do something drastic for some time due to his financial, personal and health troubles.

Smaller solidarity demonstrations were held Sunday in Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba.