Israeli man's self-immolation triggers protests - video Reuters

A crowd of around 2,000 activists demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Sunday night in solidarity with Moshe Silman, a 58-year-old man who set himself alight in a desperate act of protest at the high cost of living in Israel.

Israel's year-long social protest movement had previously been characterised by a carnival atmosphere. But on Sunday rumours spread among the crowd massed outside the ministry of social security that Silman had died. Tearful protesters bore placards declaring: "I have flammable potential too."

Silman, in fact, remains in a critical condition in hospital. Activists report that his organs are failing and his chances of survival are slim.

As unsubstantiated reports filtered through that another man had set himself alight in a copycat demonstration elsewhere in the country, protest leaders instructed the crowd through megaphones that they do not support or encourage self-immolation.

Tens of thousands demonstrated across Israel last year demanding cheaper housing and a lower cost of living. The protest has since petered out, without the movement's demands being met.

"So far this has been a middle class protest. I think [Silman's] act will draw in the working classes," filmmaker and activist Danny Rosenberg, 32, suggested. "This summer's protests will be more concentrated – and potentially more violent."

The majority of around 10,000 protesters had left on Saturday evening when Silman doused himself in petrol and set himself alight. He had distributed several copies of a suicide note explaining that despite having done his military service and paying high health insurance bills, he could no longer afford his medicine bills or his rent.

"I blame the state of Israel. I blame Bibi Netanyahu [the prime minister] and Yuval Steinitz [the finance minister] both scum for the humiliation and disenfranchisement citizens experience every day.

"I refuse to be homeless," he wrote.

Netanyahu described the incident as "a human tragedy".

Sunday's protesters roamed between ministry buildings and stormed major roads, including the arterial Ayalon highway, where traffic was brought to a halt. Drivers caught in the chaos were for the most part sympathetic.

Standing beside his stationary car in the middle of a four-lane highway, Adi, 28, was anxious get home to revise for an economics exam the next morning. But was supportive of the demonstrators and expressed deep sympathy for Silman.

"I have a wife and a young kid. We both earn very well and yet we can't afford our own home. The prices are too high so we live with our parents," he said.

"The government should do something but it probably won't. All of these protests, 50,000 people on the streets last year, and nothing has changed."