Israel's Protest Movement

Over 450,000 people attended economic-themed protests in Israel this evening:

"Over 450,000 protesters attended rallies across the country (Saturday) night calling for social justice in what was the largest demonstration in Israeli history.

"The main protest took place in Tel Aviv's Kikar Hamedina, where some 300,000 people gathered after marching from Habima Square about two kilometers away. Protest leader Yonatan Levy said the atmosphere was like 'a second Independence Day.'"

To understand the scale of this movement, consider that Israel's population is 7.7 million, meaning that 1 out of every 17 Israelis was out on the streets protesting. Israel has such huge protests on occasion, but the last one on this scale was during the 1982 Lebanon War.