<p>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.<br /><br />But demonstrators quickly rejected the measures as superficial and voted to continue their protest, with many planning to observe more strikes.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</p>
<p>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.<br /><br />But demonstrators quickly rejected the measures as superficial and voted to continue their protest, with many planning to observe more strikes.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.</p>