Tens of thousands of Israeli women staged a nationwide strike Tuesday, protesting domestic violence. Dozens of municipalities, the Histadrut labor federation and hundreds of companies announced support for the strike, called following last week's murder of two teenagers, which brought the total number of domestic violence deaths this year to 24.
Data compiled by the Knesset Research and Information Center has found that 127 women have been killed by spouses or relatives since 2011. Fifty-seven percent of the victims were Jewish.
A Facebook campaign titled "I'm a woman, I'm striking" was formed to lead the prowwww. Campaign organizers have demanded the government appropriate 250 million shekels ($67 million) to fund an emergency program to combat violence against women.
The plan, which includes a public rehabilitation program for victims of domestic violence, a separate rehabilitation program for attackers, a public awareness campaign, and a comprehensive change in the way law enforcement agencies handle domestic violence cases, was approved by the government earlier this year but has yet to receive the necessary funding.
Women's groups' outrage grew when the coalition failed to support the formation of a special committee to combat domestic violence. Since the strike was announced last week, the government has been under increased pressure to take action.
Protest marches in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beersheba and dozens of other Israeli cities and some 10 Arab towns were set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
Organizers said all major locations will also hold roundtable discussions about domestic violence and how it can be prevented and countered.
Organizers also urged men and women who would not be attending the marches to cease all work at 10 a.m. for 24 minutes, in memory of the women murdered by their spouses or relatives since the beginning of the year.
"Israeli society must stand as one, both men and women and members of all faiths to say enough to violence," newly elected Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said Monday.
"The intolerable ease of violence against women must stop. The time has come for all Israeli society to stand up as one to fight this shocking phenomenon."
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein announced Monday that parliament would be joining the prowwww.
"Violence and the murder of women is an unacceptable phenomenon and should be condemned by society. I have instructed the Knesset's committees to hold discussions on the issue this week and we will also enable female employees to take part in the strike on Tuesday. The Knesset will do everything within its power to increase awareness of the issue and to combat the phenomenon," he said.
President Reuven Rivlin and his wife, Nechama, met with the heads of Israel's women's groups on Monday and expressed support for the strike.
"Violence against women hurts all of us. This is everyone's fight – it has to cross all social sectors and boundaries. This is a fight Israeli society as a whole must wage," Rivlin said.
The nationwide protests are expected to culminate with a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv, scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
