Thousands protest in Tel Aviv against rising cost of living
Rally organizer Guy Lerer, host of current affairs show, says public ‘crying out’ and taking to the streets over skyrocketing prices; boxes of basic foodstuffs distributed at event
Thousands of people demonstrated Wednesday evening against the rising cost of living during a protest in Habima Square in Tel Aviv.
The protest was organized by Guy Lerer, host of Channel 13’s award-winning current affairs show “HaTzinor” (The Pipe).
“The public is starting to cry out and take to the streets and this is only the start,” Lerer told his network in an interview from the protest.
Lerer is no stranger to campaigning for those in need — in 2020, “HaTzinor” opened a crowdfunding campaign for people interested in redistributing the grants given in a widely criticized plan to cut checks to all Israelis amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The public donated millions of shekels to the cause, which were then redistributed to those in need.
Organizers said Wednesday’s protest was not affiliated with any political camp and only demanded that the government deal with the rising prices.
The event came after a recent report showed that Israelis pay more for most basic items than citizens of Europe do.
אתם אלפים, אתם יפים, ולמרות שאתם מאוד מאוד צעירים (במפתיע), אתם מאוד מאוד מודעים. מי שחשב שאתם רק יודעים לעשות לייקים טעה. וזו רק ההתחלה. תודה pic.twitter.com/aQdN4KS52C
— Guy lerer גיא לרר (@guylerer) February 16, 2022
Linor Deutsch, CEO of Lobby 99, a nonprofit organization that crowdfunds to lobby the government and the Knesset on the public’s behalf, told the crowd: “It is important that the message reaches the decision-makers that the public expects solutions and the prioritizing of citizens against the large monopolies.”
During the protest, a stall was set up offering packages of basic foods at a relatively low price, part of a widespread initiative set up by Lerer’s show. The campaign allowed the public to buy the boxes for themselves, or donate to those in need.
There has been intense public anger in recent weeks over rising costs, after the price of both gasoline and electricity went up, as well as basic goods.
Several major manufacturers and importers delayed or scratched plans to raise the cost of goods due to the pushback.
Last week the government announced a NIS 4.4 billion ($1.4 billion) plan to address the rising cost of living, which will include a suite of measures to lower taxes for working families and decrease the prices of energy and food staples.
Regarding food and consumer goods, the government will reduce tariffs on multiple imported products including food, toiletries and furniture.
Specifically, the plan is to remove customs duties on beef, fish, seafood, canned tuna, sausages, sauces, dried fruits, cakes and cookies, and flour. Tariffs on building and infrastructure materials, auto parts and household goods, among others, will be lifted. VAT is not addressed by the plan, nor is the direct cost of domestic goods. Finance Minister Liberman must issue an order to enable these measures, at the combined cost of NIS 1.26 billion.
In addition to the plan, Liberman announced the formation of a committee to investigate how to increase competition in the grocery market.
Price increase announcements have been rolling in since October, but only this month has the government felt the urgency to respond, following media and public pressure.
In December 2021, the Economist ranked Tel Aviv the world’s most expensive city, citing the strength of the shekel and increased costs of food and transportation.
