Transportation Minister visits Rothschild, praises protest

After first Trajtenberg C'tee meeting, Katz calls protest opportunity for change; Yesha Council chair warns against "petty political gain."

By HERB KEINON, JPOST.COM STAFF
yisrael katz 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
yisrael katz 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz, who is a member of the Trajtenberg Committee created to examine the demands of the social-movement protesters, visited the Rothschild Boulevard tent protest on Tuesday evening where activists explained to him their discontent with the government, and particularly the minister's, inefficiency.
In response to a demonstrator's inquiry about so-called tycoons' lack of responsibility to the general public, Katz said that the situation was "serious" and that "we need to deal with it."
RELATED:PM: I'm aware of hardship, cost of living in Israel Government social-change taskforce presented to PM The minister commended the protest and said that "this is how the opportunity for change is created during a government's reign, and not only in elections."
Yesha Council chairman Dani Dayan also visited the encampment on Tuesday in order to show his support, saying that if "we search for petty political gain" instead of solutions will will all lose.
"The claim that the settlements are the root of the cost of living issue is heard only by the media and politicians," Dayan said.
The first meeting of the so-called "Rothschild Team" - a committee formed by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to pinpoint and propose solutions to socioeconomic problems highlighted by growing protests - was held Tuesday afternoon, led by Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, who said there is a real "opportunity for change."
The Trajtenberg Committee, according to the road map outlined by Netanyahu in the cabinet, will hold intensive discussion with “different groups and sectors within the public.”
The committee will then make proposals to the government’s 16-minister socioeconomic cabinet, headed by Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz.
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