A guillotine, the symbol of the French Revolution, has been placed Wednesday in the center of Tel Aviv's "tent city," turning into one of the biggest attractions in this ongoing social protest.

The surprising display arrived in Rothschild Boulevard following another long night of protests across the country, this time focusing on contractor conditions. Demonstrators in five different cities participated in rallies Wednesday night against working conditions, wearing white masks and chanting: "Contractor companies are organized crime."

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In Beersheba protesters organized a 'bathing suit march' to exemplify how the social protest "has taken off." In Bat Yam hundreds of residents marched to protest against the high costs of living and housing shortage, clashing with the police's Special Patrol Unit.





The guillotine in Tel Aviv (Photo: B. Eitan)

Holon protesters intensified the upheaval by burning tires and furniture, demonstrating against the city council's attempt to vacate the premises. Meanwhile, haredi and secular protestors rallied side by side in Jerusalem against the shaky public transportation in the city.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz re-visited Tel Aviv's "tent city" on Thursday to present the new public transportation plan before protesters, after the recent reform was harshly criticized.

"I think the message is that eventually nothing can be solved without dialogue. I am here as a government minister and member of the socioeconomic cabinet, which is supposed to stand guard," Katz said.

Referring to his transportation reform program, dubbed 'Israel's Throughways', Katz noted that its goal was to expand the national rail system so that residents of the Galilee, Negev and Jerusalem could reach the center with greater ease.

"In several years' time, Israel will be a different nation, more connected and more equal. The equality in infrastructure across the country will provide equal opportunity to anyone who wants to live here and work there, while establishing factories everywhere," he added.

Social protest leaders announced Wednesday night that they have reached an agreement regarding a unified leadership to represent the assorted protests.





Next mass rally will be held in Beersheba (Photo: Roee Idan)

The upcoming mass rally on Saturday will be held in Beersheba this time around, after protest spokesman explained they had "decided to emphasize the periphery's place in the protest. We are all a social periphery."

Meanwhile the Knesset's Finance Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni took part in a Tel Aviv conference organized by social organizations and associations calling to "let the voices of low-income populations be heard in the protest."

Gafni expressed his support of the protest but clarified he objects to any changes in the budget frame, claiming: "There is a real change (happening) in the prime minister's policy."

Boaz Fyler and Roi Kais contributed to the report