Dozens of disabled Israelis blocked train station, traffic in protests
The protesters managed to stop train traffic in the area for close to an hour before disbanding and allowing traffic to resume.
By IDAN ZONSHINEDisabled Israelis protest by blocking train tracks near Shfayim.(photo credit: DISABLED BECOME PANTHERS)
A small group of disabled activists blocked the train tracks near Shfayim station on Sunday morning in protest of the slow pace in which the Israeli government has been handling the latest bill regarding disability benefits.The protesters managed to stop train traffic in the area for close to an hour before disbanding and allowing traffic to resume. From there, the group headed towards the nearby kibbutz Yakum, and blocked traffic on highway 2 for approximately 20 minutes.This is just one in a long line of traffic-related protests from disabled activists over the past few years, this one organized by members of a Facebook group named "Disabled Become Panthers".When asked, protesters told Ma'ariv that they received messages from the treasury claiming that the national deficit, coupled with the second election race, has caused budgetary concerns, forcing the government to reassess the application of the latest bill regarding disability benefits.
