Tel-Chai Nation

In the past week or so, there's been a disturbing series of self-immolationists burning themselves - at least 5 people did this - as part of "social justice" protests. This is ludicrous and does not help the situations Israel faces at all, certainly not after Kadima left the government about a week ago. Big Peace says about the peculiar protests:

The Israeli economy is also among the strongest in the industrialized world. Its economy is growing at a rate of 3.3%, far higher than that of the United States; its unemployment rate is below six percent, falling to a 32-year low of 5.6% earlier this year. Its currency, the shekel, is relatively strong against the dollar and its government budgets, while tight, are nowhere near the debt disaster that has befallen Europe (and which awaits the U.S.).

Still, three factors have driven social unrest in Israel. One is rising prices, due in part to the oligarchic structure of many sectors of the Israeli economy. A second is the massive size of the Israeli welfare state, upon which many Israelis have come to rely for basic needs; budget restraint hits them hard. A third factor is the left-wing nature of Israeli politics, which endures despite the country’s entrepreneurial culture and military reality.

Yes, it's still a very sad factor in the problems this country's coping with now. As for the welfare situation, it makes me sick how this is what quite a few people in society here, notably in the Hasidic sector, have been practically demanding be the norm. It doesn't help a bit and even goes against the Torah-based beliefs in self-reliance. And changing that mindset could take considerable time.

Until then, I should hope that anybody planning self-immolation will come to their senses and not do it, because it does not solve their problems or anybody else's.

Update: one leftist has appealed to protestors not to self-immolate.

Labels: Israel, Moonbattery