3 Aug 2011

Israeli government action to tackle protests

8:47 am on 3 August 2011

The Israeli government has stopped a planned rise in petrol prices and will increase food imports after protests over the rising cost of living.

The move follows street marches by some 100,000 demonstrators at the weekend - the biggest popular protests seen in Israel in decades.

President Shimon Peres has met protest leaders and has offered to mediate, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far refused to meet them.