Speaking a day after a nationwide protests that some newspapers said were the largest ever seen in Israel over social issues, Netanyahu on Sunday pledged to establish a task force to examine economic reforms and hear the demands of the protesters.
But demonstrators quickly rejected the measures as superficial and voted to continue their protest, with many planning to observe more strikes.
Netanyahu said he understood the “genuine hardship” faced by many Israelis, but also warned against “hasty” measures he said could throw the country into an economic crisis.
As he met with his cabinet, thousands of doctors protested outside the parliament, raising pressure on the government to find a way to halt rising costs of everything from cheese to gasoline.
Activists were also reportedly gathering support for another protest — a mass withdrawal of cash from banks on August 8 to protest against high banking and credit card fees.
In a possible sign of the toll the unrest could take on the government, Finance Ministry Director General Haim Shani submitted his resignation, Ynet reported on Sunday.
The demonstrations are the largest over social issues seen in Israel since the early 1970s when thousands of people, led by a group called the Black Panthers, took to the streets to rally against racial discrimination suffered by Mizrahi Jews of Middle Eastern descent.