BICOM

The leaders of the tent city protests, including student organisations and leaders of social organisations, issued a joint statement yesterday outlying the main principles behind the current tent protests and social justice demonstrations taking place across Israel. The document, entitled “Framework of investment for a new socio-economic agenda,” was distributed among the protest tents last night throughout Israel for feedback. Following the issuing of the document, Maariv reports that several groups from peripheral towns decided to opt out of the protest, saying that the social struggle no longer focuses enough on housing.

The document opens with a quote from Israel’s Declaration of Independence and outlines the six main principles for an alliance between the state and its citizens. These principles include: minimising social inequalities; altering the main principles of the economic system; lowering the cost of living; giving priority to the periphery areas in Israel; treating the essential needs of the weaker population better; state investment in education, health, housing, transportation and personal safety. The protesters also have another document with detailed specific demands that it plans to present to the government once it starts a dialogue begins with officials.

In related news, the Knesset plans to hold a special session next Tuesday to discuss the social justice protests. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named a 22-person taskforce of professionals and officials, headed by Professor Manuel Trajtenberg, to come up with solutions to easing the cost of living for citizens and to start dialogue with the protesters.