A day after tens of thousands of Israelis participated in nationwide protests, Israel's Finance Ministry director general Haim Shani resigned. Shani announced his resignation on Sunday as tens of thousands of Israelis continued to participate in nationwide protests demanding social justice and an end to rising costs. Shani said he resigned over differences of opinion with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz. The country's doctors staged a protest outside the Knesset and leaders of the Israel Medical Association submitted a petition to the Prime Minister's office calling to save public medicine in Israel. The doctors who have been protesting for several months demanding improved working conditions and better pay, have yet to receive a response from the government. President Shimon Peres met with some of the doctors leading the struggle after expressing a desire to intervene on their behalf. Peres also said he is willing to mediate between the protesters demanding social justice and the government in an effort to solve the crisis. Taking to the streets on Saturday night some 150,000 protesters called to lower housing and food costs, equal standards of education for all including free education from birth, free university tuition, quality healthcare for all, higher salaries, and improved work conditions. The demonstrators challenged Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to act and amend the situation or step down. Saturday night's protests that took place in major cities including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, and Beersheba were described by the local media as the largest protests demanding social equality that occurred in the history of the State. Activist Daphni Leef described the nationwide protests "a revolution of awareness," saying citizens realize they deserve more
