Thousands of Israelis protest in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu’s response to pandemic
Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against what is widely regarded as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to address the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many Israelis believe the government has not done enough to compensate hundreds of thousands of workers who lost their jobs as a result of restrictions and shutdowns.
Unemployment surged 21 per cent since Israel imposed restrictions in March and aid packages promised by the government have been slow to come through. This led to Mr Netanyahu’s popularity plummeting.
The protest in central Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square brought together the unemployed, self-employed, entrepreneurs and business owners.
Participants wore masks, but did not appear to follow social distancing rules.
Alarmed by a new surge in coronavirus cases, which increased after the economy began reopening, Mr Netanyahu this week reimposed a series of restrictions, closing many businesses again.
“I have 40 workers with no income, no money,” said Michal Gaist-Casif, vice president of a sound and lighting company.
“We need the government to pump in money until we’re back to normal. We haven’t been working since mid-March through April, May, June and July, and August is looking to be a catastrophe.”
Last Thursday, Mr Netanyahu announced what he called an economic “safety net”, promising quick relief to the self-employed.
He also promised stipends over the year for struggling workers and business owners.
His government was expected to approve the plan.
But the large turnout at Rabin Square was a sign of widespread discontent with the government’s policies.
Despite successfully keeping the outbreak under control in spring, Israel’s new government, which took office in May, was accused by some people of reopening the economy too quickly.
This caused a new surge in infections, which is expected to put more people out of work as a result of renewed closures.
The authorities now report record levels of more than 1,000 new cases a day, higher than any peak in the spring. Israel’s death toll is about 360.
“People feel helpless; there’s no response,” said Roee Cohen, president of the Israel Chamber of Independent Organisations and Businesses.
“They are enraged and want the government to take responsibility.”
Mr Netanyahu’s support has tumbled. A recent Midgam Research & Consulting poll on Channel 12 TV found only 46 per cent of respondents approved of Mr Netanyahu’s job performance, down from 74 per cent in May.