Bar-David announces nationwide protests against the cost of living crisis

The State of Israel says, “Enough!” And takes to the streets: hundreds of workers and pensioners from the Haifa area and the surrounding area will participate tomorrow (Tuesday) in a demonstration that will start the national wave of protests of the Histadrut against the cost of living. During the coming weeks, and following the Enough! campaign, the Histadrut is expected to hold a series of demonstrations across the country, calling on the incoming government to immediately implement an emergency plan to lower the cost of living. The first demonstration, as mentioned, will be held tomorrow at the government building in Haifa at 1:30 p.m.

The full schedule for the demonstrations:
December 21 – Ashdod
December 27 – Ramla
December 28 – Ashkelon
January 3, 2023 – Nahariya
January 4, 2023 – Nof HaGalil and Nazareth
January 10, 2023 – Rehovot
January 11, 2023 – Beer Sheva
January 17, 2023 – Tel Aviv
January 18, 2023 – Hadera
January 24, 2023 – Jerusalem

Although the current struggle is addressed to the decision-makers, the demonstrations will not be political. The effects of the rise in inflation, the wave of price increases in the economy, the erosion of the workers’ wages, and the poverty imposed on the pensioners are not right-wing or left-wing politics or issues. The fight is a social struggle, and the participants of the demonstrations among the workers, pensioners, workers committees, and trade unions – will reflect all shades of Israeli society.

Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David: “Every day, we wake up to another announcement of price increases, and we don’t see the end in sight. A rich country can’t have poor people who do not close the month. It’s time for all of us to say ‘Enough!’ We are taking to the streets today, from the right and left, religious and secular, workers and pensioners – and are demanding that the new government restore order, restore sanity and act to reduce the cost of living immediately.

I expect to see you, citizens, standing proudly next to the representatives of the Histadrut, the workers, and the workers committees – and together, as one and united front, say clearly and decisively – no more, not on the backs of the Israeli public. We want to make a living and live with dignity. In this call, we will all go out together in a nationwide effort from north to south because together, we have the power to influence. The Histadrut will continue this just struggle as long as it takes. We will not hesitate to act until we see real commitment from the decision-makers and immediate solutions that help remove the economic sword being wielded over Israeli society.”