On 3.9.2011 450,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv (300,000) and in many other localities across the country, as part of the biggest social protest in Israeli history.

This demonstration was a new record in a chain of protests after the mass demonstrations on 6.8.2011 in which 280,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and dozens of thousands more in other localities across the country, as part of the biggest social protest in Israeli history till that day. That demonstration was a new stage in a chain of protests, starting from setting up a protest encampment on Rothschild Boulevard in beginning of July, by a group of young people from Tel Aviv (initiated by Daphne Leaf), who protested against the high cost of housing for the young people as well for the whole population. At the beginning there were only a few tents in Rothschild Boulevard, but gradually the number of tents went up and now they are covering almost all Rothschild Boulevard. Many hundreds of tents were established later all over the country. Protest against the housing shortage has become a general protest against the whole ruling social-economic policies. Many social groups joined the protest. In addition to establishing tents series of various protests started. The most conspicuous of them were the mass demonstrations in Tel Aviv, the third of which was with the huge number of 280,000 participants. On 13.8 demonstrations and rallies took place in dozens of communities across the country.

These days the protest organizers are formulating a document with concrete requirements from the government. It should be noted that the desire to keep the scope of the broad mass protest movement, lead some of its organizers to avoid what is termed "political statements", although the reason for the housing shortage and other economic hardships is a political policy of distinct leaders the political establishment of Israel, who act for the interests of the tycoons of the country at the expense of the middle and poor strata of the population. Ultimately, only a political change in policy, including diverting funds from the huge budget of military expenditures, (used to keep the occupation and the settlements) towards the budget for health, education and welfare, can bring significant change in the socio-economic conditions and reduce substantially the high cost of living prevailing in the country.

The Israeli Communist Forum, September 2011