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The crisis, in fact, is serious given poll results, showing 87% of Israelis support the protests. According to Bar-Ilan University Professor Sam Lehman-Wilzig:
"What is very troubling for Netanyahu is that this is not a left wing versus right wing protest. It's one of the few issues that cuts across all political spectrums." As a result, he's "definitely nervous, and he should be nervous."
"Whereas the street has been relatively quiet in the last 20 years, it's beginning to wake up and demand part of the national wealth that does not seem to be trickling down as much as it should. It's not a call to return to Israel's socialist past, but to a more collective feeling of society as a whole."
Indeed, the protests cut across Israeli society, including secular and religious groups, Jews and Arabs, men and women, youths and elderly, newly marrieds, veterans, Bedouins, and Israel's growing numbers of homeless. As a result, Netanyahu's leadership and governing coalition hang in the balance.
In fact, calls are increasing for him to resign, including from Haaretz writer Akiva Eldar, headlining an August 1 op-ed: "Netanyahu's time is up," saying:
Middle class Israelis "crumpled under the burdens of the high cost of health, housing, education, food and gasoline" for years. Moreover, their taxes are too high and wages too low.
Under Netanyahu, grievances are now boiling over for good reasons. He failed most Israelis and should go. By resigning as Israel's Finance Ministry director general, Haim Shani perhaps agrees. Reports suggest he disapproves of spending billions of dollars addressing the problem Israel doesn't have.
Like other politicians, Netanyahu made promises, but didn't deliver for everyone, leaving out Israel's middle class, workers and most needy. According to activist Yigal Rambam:
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