'It's just a phase.' Doctors march
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Doctors camp outside PM's Office
Some 100 physicians, residents end their protest march to Jerusalem, say prepared to remain in protest tents 'for months' until end of struggle
Some 100 doctors and residents completed their protest march to Jerusalem on Friday morning and set up a protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Office.
The leader of the struggle, Israeli Medical Association Chairman Dr. Leonid Edelman, launched a hunger strike several days ago. On Friday, he was examined by doctors from the Hadassah Hospital after feeling unwell.
The protestors vowed to remain in their encampment until their demands are met. They placed a stretcher outside and wrote on it, "Bibi, lend a hand, the healthcare system is collapsing."
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"What's happening here is just a phase. We are prepared for months of struggle and we'll stay here as long as it takes. I promise that the doctors will not break down," said Prof. Azriel Perel, president of the Israel Society of Anesthesiologists.
"The State of Israel is controlled by only one ministry – the Finance Ministry," he stated.
Addressing the wave of protests washing through the country, Perel said: "I think the people sitting there (in the Finance Ministry) have forgotten that the goal is not to keep as much money in the Treasury.
"Our nation feels forgotten. It's felt in healthcare, housing, cottage cheese or taxes. I face the Treasury and see people motivated by logic and a worldview that only sees money, but not people."
According to Prof. Perel, the healthcare system is filled with anger. "We have been coming to work for years, and instead of healing people we have to fight – for jobs, beds, daily troubles. We fight to treat our patients, and many times we can't offer the proper treatment because so much is missing."
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