8,000 demonstrate against social inequalities across the country
‘The people demand a social budget,’ crowds shout, as protests return with a vengeance
Yifa Yaakov is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel.

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa on Saturday night in the second social protest of the year — the first of many more, if the organizers and demonstrators are to be believed.
“The people demand a social budget,” yelled the crowds, chanting slogans and demanding action from a government which, in their eyes, has yet to do anything for the sake of its voters.
The protesters demanded that the government change its priorities and lower the cost of living in Israel and ease the burden on its struggling middle class.
“The fact that the government has decided that it isn’t interested, that it doesn’t want social justice, simply means we have to keep on fighting,” said Zohar Wagner, one of the organizers of the Jerusalem protests, in an interview with Israel Radio. He warned that the government would have to invest in education and other areas directly involving the welfare of Israeli citizens, or else the country “would cease to exist.”
Some 8,000 Israelis were estimated to have protested outside the Tel Aviv Museum after having marched their from the city’s Habima Theater. In Jerusalem, hundreds marched from Gan Hasus toward Agron street, not far from the location of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Hundreds also gathered in Haifa.
The first social protest of 2012 took place three weeks ago. Though its turnout was low compared to last summer’s mass protests, the enthusiasm of the crowds was palpable, hinting that more demonstrations would be forthcoming.