BICOM

Leaders of the social protests in Israel are currently finalising a document containing a list of demands that will be presented to Prime Minister Netanyahu. The document, according to Haaretz newspaper, outlines a clear set of policy proposals in the areas of housing, education, health care, welfare and economic policy. On housing, the issue which sparked the protests, the document calls for renewed construction of public housing, legislation to control rents and rental conditions, and an amendment to the Planning and Building Law that would obligate contractors to build ‘affordable housing.’ Netanyahu will not meet with the leaders of the tent protests, as he will refer them to the team of minister he plans to establish this week to find solutions to the housing crunch. According to media reports, the prime minister considers that the motivations behind the protests are political, and are intended to bring down the government.