2 Israelis attempt self-immolation

A 40-year-old Israeli male poured flammable liquid over his body in the town of Netivot in the south of the Occupied Territories on Monday before the police intervened preventing the protest move.

Earlier on the same day, the police also prevented self-immolation by another Israeli man in his 50s, who had attempted to set fire to himself in front of a police station near the Ofakim area, an Israeli police spokesman said.

The police official said both Israelis faced financial problems.

This is while, wheelchair-bound Israeli veteran Akiva Mafa’i set himself on fire in a bus stop in the city of Yehud about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Tel Aviv on Sunday. He ended up with burns over about 80 percent of his body, according to medical sources.

    Mafa’i self-immolated after having a dispute with Israeli authorities. Prior to the protest move, he read out a letter and accused the Israeli officials of “taking from the poor and giving to the rich.”

The incident occurred hours before the funeral of Moshe Silmon, who died of burns he had sustained after a similar act of self-immolation in Tel Aviv 10 days ago.

Fifty seven-year-old Silman self-immolated on July 14 during a demonstration held to mark the first anniversary of protests against social injustice and high costs of living that swept Israel last summer.

According to Israeli media reports, Silman, who suffered second- and third-degree burns over 94 percent of his body, died on July 20 after fighting for his life for almost a week.

Several demonstrations have been held in support of Silman over the past days. Protesters have voiced outrage against Tel Aviv, considering it a “racist, war-mongering” regime.

Demonstrators also attacked and torched the office of the National Insurance Institute in Tel Aviv a few days ago. The institute is blamed for Silman’s financial troubles and his self-immolation.

Similar protests in Silman’s memory were also held in al-Quds (Jerusalem), Haifa, and Beersheba.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched and set up protest camps across the cccupied Palestinian territories during the demonstrations last summer. Angry at the high costs of living and social inequalities, the protesters called for the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Activists say that last year’s rallies have failed to change the situation.