Moshe Silman's Self-Immolation Is A National, Not Just A Personal, Tragedy

[Purveyor]

Ami Kaufman
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18 July 2012 06.33 EDT

The social justice protests we saw exactly a year ago in Israel could not be more different than the renewed wave of rallies that have once again brought people out to the sweltering streets.

Last year, tens of thousands participated in the J14 weekly marches against the high cost of living in Israel and the deterioration of social services. The rallies grew week on week, culminating in nationwide demonstrations on September 3 that brought over 400,000 people to the streets. This was the largest – and most peaceful – protest against capitalism that summer across the globe, not only percentage-wise (6% of the population) but in absolute numbers as well.

There's a different atmosphere on the streets this summer. Polls show there is still widespread support for J14 (named after the day the protest began, July 14), but fewer are participating. Saturday's demonstration, the largest so far, managed to muster just 10,000 people. The ad hoc leadership of the movement has splintered into numerous factions, some calling for more co-operation with the political system, while others want a confrontational approach.

Both the citizens and the state are losing patience. Police are showing less restraint this time round and videos of protesters being beaten have quickly spread across the social networks. Police even brought in a high-tech military surveillance vehicle used in the occupied territories to monitor protesters. And even before the protests started up again, key activists were summoned for interrogation at police stations. On the protesters' side, the confrontational approach took centre stage a few weeks ago when a bank was "occupied" and its windows smashed.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jul/18/moshe-silman-self-immolation

[Scurrilous]

1. Activist Silman who set self on fire dies of wounds

57-year-old who self-immolated at Tel Aviv social justice protest succumbs to injuries at Sheba Medical Center.

<snip>

"Moshe Silman, the man who was critically wounded when he lit himself on fire at a social justice protest in Tel Aviv last week, succumbed to his wounds at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer on Friday.

Silman, a 57-year-old Haifa resident, had recently been recognized as 100 percent disabled by the National Insurance Institute (NII), but was receiving only NIS 2,300 in state benefits and was informed recently that he was not eligible for government housing. He was facing eviction in less than two weeks from the apartment where he had been living for free over the past year."

<snip>

"Before setting himself on fire, Silman handed out copies of a letter in which he blamed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz for his economic hardships.

Describing them as villains, Silman said he received no rent assistance despite suffering a stroke recently and no longer being able to work at all.

He went on to name officials at the Housing Ministry and the National Insurance Institute who he said made his life impossible. Eventually, the letter said, he received NIS 2,300 a month in disability benefits, from which he must pay for health insurance and buy medicines."

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=278294

[azurnoir]

2. It is shocking that a 100% disabled Jewish citizen of Israel was denied housing

by the Israeli government