Opposition leader Tzipi Livni attended the protest, voicing her support for the doctors in their struggle.RELATED:Eidelman settles down for Jerusalem Shabbat of hungerEidelman denies president's appeal to stop hunger strike"Your calls will eventually penetrate the self-imposed isolation chamber in which the prime minister sits. Your calls will cause him to come out of his self-imposed isolation and meet with you - it's not contagious," Livni told the gathered doctors and medical interns.
Livni thanked the doctors for their struggle saying it was not only for a better salary and working conditions, but rather it was a fight for "the future of Israel and its health."The opposition leader slammed the government, saying they should "be ashamed" that there are two separate health systems in the country, one for the rich and one for the poor.Earlier on Tuesday, Israel Medical Association chairman Dr. Leonid Eidelman, on a hunger strike over the ongoing work dispute, met with President Shimon Peres.Eidelman said that it was a great honor to be at Beit Hanassi, but emphasized that the IMA was not seeking honor but a solution to a very serious problem. "Public health is in crisis. We need more doctors," he said.Greer Fay Cashman contributed to this report.