Israeli left struggles to harness economic discontent

In 2011, record numbers of Israelis took to the streets to protest the cost of living, but on the eve of general elections it remains unclear if the left has been able to harness that discontent. The movement, which began as a demonstration over housing prices, evolved into a much broader protest over the cost of living and income inequality, and peaked on September 3, 2011, when half a million Israelis took to the streets. The centre-left Labour party has recruited several members of the movement and has centred its campaign on the economic situation -- a concern that ranks higher for most Israelis than the Palestinian issue or the threat posed by Iran. Stav Shaffir, one of the protest movement's most prominent voices, is now running in the eighth slot on Labour's electoral list. "We feel that we pay a lot, that we do everything, that we serve in the military, we pay a lot of tax, we try to be the best citizens possible but we don't get the minimum (social) security from our government," she said ahead of Tuesday's vote. JERUSALEM (AFP) - (AFP) - In 2011, record numbers of Israelis took to the streets to protest the cost of living, but on the eve of general elections it remains unclear if the left has been able to harness that discontent. The movement, which began as a demonstration over housing prices, evolved into a much broader protest over the cost of living and income inequality, and peaked on September 3, 2011, when half a million Israelis took to the streets. The centre-left Labour party has recruited several members of the movement and has centred its campaign on the economic situation -- a concern that ranks higher for most Israelis than the Palestinian issue or the threat posed by Iran.Stav Shaffir, one of the protest movement's most prominent voices, is now running in the eighth slot on Labour's electoral list. "We feel that we pay a lot, that we do everything, that we serve in the military, we pay a lot of tax, we try to be the best citizens possible but we don't get the minimum (social) security from our government," she said ahead of Tuesday's vote.