BREAKING NEWS

Olmert 'emotional about protests'; Likud: He caused them

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011 09:37

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert praised the recent socioeconomic protests on Sunday in his first comments on the matter since housing demonstrators pitched tents in Tel Aviv two months ago.

Speaking at the Conference on Regional Cooperation organized by Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, Olmert expressed solidarity with the protesters and their demands.

"It was impossible to not get emotional at the sight of the masses that got together and made their voice heard in a restrained and responsible way," he said. "I heard the voices and identified with the emotions. This was a demonstration in favor of a better Israel. Indeed Israel requires fundamental changes in its national priorities."

The Likud responded by bashing Olmert and blaming him for many of the socioeconomic problems raised by the protesters.

"It is strange to hear such comments from a former prime minister and finance minister who didn't lift a finger to solve any of the problems faced by the middle class that the protests are about," said the head of the Likud's response team, MK Ophir Akunis. "If he would have done something about these problems he is suddenly emotional about, perhaps such protests would have never happened.

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