Israeli social justice protests continue

Tens of thousands of Israelis demanding social justice have staged protests across the country for the fourth consecutive week.

An estimated 70,000 people attended demonstrations Saturday night after a decision was made to hold protests outside of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The protests are part of the social justice movement that has erected tent cities in towns and cities demanding equality and an end to rising costs, Ynetnews.com and Haaretz reported.

The largest protest was in Haifa, which drew more 25,000 Israelis and Arabs, Ynetnews.com said. Protests were also in Beersheba, Rosh Pina, Beit She'an Nazareth, Nahariya, Netanya, Rishon Lezion, Ashkelon, Dimona and Eilat.

Protesters want a halt to rising food costs, affordable housing for all, free education in elementary schools and control of university tuition fees.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has formed a team to investigate the protesters' demands and is expected to receive its recommendations within a month.

Professor Manuel Trachtenberg, the chairman of the Planning and Budgeting Committee of the Council for Higher Education, was appointed to head the team.

Verizon strike enters second week

The first week of a strike at Verizon ended Friday with thousands of employees walking picket lines at facilities in the northeastern United States.

Officials with the Communication Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers say the telecommunications company is demanding concessions that would cost their members as much as $20,000 a year, The New York Times reported. Verizon says that figure is "bogus."

Verizon wants employees to contribute more for health insurance coverage, although the company and union disagree on how much money is involved. The company also wants to freeze pensions, reduce the number of sick days and completely do away with contractual job security provisions.

"We see this as a definite attack on the middle class, and there's no justification for it from a company that's so profitable," Pam Galpern, a field technician in New York, told the Times.

The strike by 45,000 employees began last Sunday. The two sides have spent little time talking to each other.