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We will begin with deep condolences for the bereaved families, and heartfelt encouragement
for the residents of the South, who once again fell under attack these past few days – our
hearts and thoughts are with them. And with that friends - with all the complexities
we stand here together at a test. This is possibly the gravest test that we’ve had
to encounter since the beginning of the protest movement - for the future of the social welfare
of the State of Israel. We’ve been conditioned for many years that
whenever the security situation becomes severe, all of our social and personal needs pale
in comparison. And that, my friends, is how we have arrived
at our current situation. A situation of a lack of social justice, of societal neglect…
There is a clear connection between the incidents of the past few days and the social justice
protests. Both of them were brought on by the Israeli government’s continuous neglect.
For the past ten years the intelligence and security services have warned against the
breached border with Egypt. This is an issue that has not been dealt with until now, and
has caused thousands of infiltrators and refugees to enter Israel, the kidnapping of the soldier
Gilad Shalit, and now the incidents of the past few days.
Also economists and experts in the field for the past decade have been warning against
the deterioration of the socio-economic situation – the situation was blatantly ignored, neglected
and an utter failure to take responsibility for increasing the massive poverty gaps in
our society – modern poverty for the working class, and stagnation in the development of
Israel’s periphery. Friends, today I call on the government of
Israel to take full and courageous responsibility for the protection of Israel’s borders,
and detailed attention to the lower/weaker classes and those of Israel’s periphery.
We must care for both of these demographics as the existential survival of the State of
Israel depends directly on both of them. I have the great privilege of being the representative
of the tent communities of Kiryat Shmona and the North for the national protest movement.
In our last meeting of representatives from around the country this past Friday we received
warm encouragement and support from the communities of the South.
Communities such as Sderot, Ashkelon and Beer Sheva – like Kiryat Shmona, suffered for
years and are still suffering from a problematic security situation and a policy of neglecting
the periphery – support us and this demonstration. They know just like us that we have to continue
this struggle towards a better and more just state. One that will close poverty gaps and
will facilitate development for the marginalized communities neglected for years.
I want to thank and praise those who came to show their support from all over the country
– from Haifa, Afula, the Golan, from the entire Jezreel valley – your energy really
strengthens us, many thanks. Our demonstration today is dedicated to our
brothers and friends of the Southern periphery that, yet again, are experiencing difficult
times. Their pain is our pain, their struggle is our struggle, and their future is our future.
We are united now more than ever. This unity and mutual involvement provides our strength
for a better and more suitable reality here in the State of Israel.