Israel's Netanyahu pledges social changes after mass protests

[News_Editor]

Israel's Netanyahu pledges social changes after mass protests

2011-09-04 23:31:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEL AVIV (BNO NEWS) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday promised to make significant social changes following mass demonstrations on Saturday to demand social justice across the country, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Addressing his cabinet, Netanyahu expressed his commitment to act quickly "and maintain the correct balance between social sensitivity and responsible economics". "My government is committed to carrying out tangible changes in order to ease the cost-of-living and correct social distortions," the prime minister said.

The premier also highlighted the need to have a strong economy that would not be blighted by the problems seen in other countries in Europe. "Only if we have an economy that does not slip, fall and collapse, as happened to several principal countries in Europe, only thus can we ease the cost-of-living and correct those distortions," he added, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

An estimated 450,000 Israelis took to the streets across the country on Saturday to protest the high cost of living in the largest such demonstration in Israel's history. Organizers had called for a 'March of the Million' in an effort to revitalize the social housing movement that began in mid-July when activists set up "tent cities" to protest surging real-estate prices and the housing shortage.

"This square is filled with the new Israelis, who would die for this country, but expect you, Mr. prime minister, to let us live in this country," National Student Union Chairman Itzik Shmuli said in Tel Aviv during the protest. "Tonight, Israel is awakening into the largest protest in its history."

Thousands of people have been holding demonstrations across the country to protest the high cost of living and demand social justice in the past months. Prime Minister Netanyahu has appointed a committee to explore economic policies in order to formulate solutions to the country's current economic troubles.

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