VICE travels to Israel to meet young members of the growing radical left, in the lead up to the one-year anniversary of the biggest protest in Israel’s history. Last summer, while the world was busy following the Arab Spring, nearly half a million Israelis took to the streets demanding social justice and an end to the rule of the tycoons. Still, the government didn’t listen. The protest movement was nicknamed J14, short for July 14th, marking the date a girl called Daphni Leef pitched the first tent in central Tel Aviv, in protest against extortionate rents and living costs.
Fed up with threats of imminent wars with their Arab neighbours, the hostile ways of land grabbing religious nutters in silly hats, and the fact that almost two million Israelis are living in poverty, young people are choosing the path of dissent.
We follow Ronnie Barkan, an Israeli Jew who fights for Palestian rights, to a protest in the West Bank. We meet Daphni Leef and Stav Shaffir, the most famous faces of the protest movement, who inspire people all over Israel to get involved. We visit creatives who have unique ways of dealing with the government’s fear mongering: Ronny Edry and Michal Tamir, who started the Facebook campaign Israel Loves Iran; Artist Guy Briller, who drives around with a missile on his car to ease the tension and make people laugh; and Yuda Braun, a former IDF soldier turned artist, who patrols the streets of conflict ridden areas as the White Soldier.
Finally, we get a gruesome reminder of the depths of desperation felt by many Israelis, when, during the massive one-year anniversary demo, we witness a man set fire to himself in protest against Israel’s dysfunctional welfare system.
It’s an insight to everyday life in Israel that goes beyond the hackneyed media coverage of Gaza rockets and death tolls. This film is about young Israelis starting a revolution for social justice.
More From This Show
-
Teenage Riot: Athens
In the run-up to a 48-hour national strike, we meet teenage anarchists who are desperate for police blood.
-
Egypt's Second Revolution
The young Egyptians who toppled president Hosni Mubarak earlier this year still aren't satisfied.
-
Triple Hate
A documentary about the Klan, the Crips, Ulysses S. Grant, racism and the spectre of history.
-
White Student Union - Trailer
A documentary about race, class and self-righteous college students yelling at each other.
-
Sisa: Cocaine of the Poor
A new drug called sisa is tearing its way through Athens' poor.
-
Triple Hate - Trailer
A doc about Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Memphis City Council, the Klan and the Crips.
-
This Is What Winning Looks Like
A documentary about the ineptitude and corruption of the Afghan security forces.
-
This Is What Winning Looks Like - Trailer
Premiering Monday, May 13, on VICE.com.
-
Bomb Blast Bajaur
On April 20, a female suicide bomber attacked a hospital in Khar, Pakistan.
-
B.C. Bud - Part 1
Visiting grow ops and the RCMP to chat about weed and weed production.
-
What Does Terrorism Mean in 2013?
It's a difficult word to define, according to Glenn Greenwald.
-
Murderous Fanatics and EDL Idiots Brought Darkness to Woolwich Yesterday
We spent the day there trying to make sense of it all.
-
Cry-Baby of the Week
This week: Some kids got arrested for a water balloon fight and a guy is suing Taco Bell for stealing his ideas.
-
VICE News: Triple Hate
Memphis City Council, the Klan and the Crips.
-
VICE News: Sisa: Cocaine of the Poor
A new drug called sisa is tearing its way through Athens' poor.
-
My Week Spent with Hungary's Far-Right
Hungarian nationalists throw beer at people and blame Jews and gypsies for all their problems.
-
American Teens Are Being Trapped in Abusive 'Drug Rehab Centres'
How an anti-drug cult from the 60s has evolved into an abusive, billion-dollar “teen rehab” industry.
-
Is Tabloid Outrage Just Getting More People into Legal Highs?
Getting uppity about internet drugs seems kind of pointless if all you're doing is advertising them.
-
We Photographed a Drunk EDL Hate Mob Attacking Police Last Night
They went there to spread Islamophobia and achieved absolutely nothing.
-
Rave and Hardcore YouTube Comments Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity
They're genuinely some of the most beautiful things I've ever read.
-
VICE on HBO Outtakes: Kicking Heroin with an Ibogaine Ceremony
Many swear it's the most effective way to kick heroin addiction.
-
We Spoke to a Former Crack Addict About Rob Ford
"People don’t decide to have a glass of wine with dinner and then go buy a bag of crack."
-
Fringes: Stories from the Edge: Deportee Purgatory
Tijuana’s El Bordo is home to thousands of heroin-addicted Mexican deportees.
-
VICE News: Triple Hate
A doc about Nathan Bedford Forrest, the Memphis City Council, the Klan, and the Crips.
-
The Creators Project: Turning CCTV Footage into Art
An invasion of privacy and erosion of our civil liberties can serve as a source for art.
-
We Watched the Stockholm Suburbs Burn
But was it really a riot, or just a coupe of bored arsonists?
-
Fashion Tidbits Roundup: David Bowie, Glitter and Topless Abercrombie Models
These are things you should know about, this week.
-
Photo Dump Vol. 120
More stupid pictures we found on the stupid internet.
-
Milf Teeth: In Ibiza with Endless House
Maybe I'm an old raver now, too.
-
In Search of Tim Dog, the Rapper Turned Con Artist who Probably Faked His Own Death
We spoke to several people close to him who think he's alive, and after some digging, we think so, too.
-
Speaking with Adam Kokesh, Before He Was Detained by the Feds
This would be the first in a series of controversies surrounding Adam and his politics.
-
Cry-Baby of the Week
This week: Some kids got arrested for a water balloon fight and a guy is suing Taco Bell for stealing his ideas.
-
George's Fun Happy Place
George has a lot of problems to overcome, but he's capable of an incredible lightness.
-
Spanish Bombs: Granada Unveils Joe Strummer Plaza
Granada inaugurates a plaza for Clash frontman Joe Strummer.
-
This Man Thinks He Never Has to Eat Again
Rob Rhinehart's vomit-coloured cocktail could change food forever.
-
Alex Miller's New Column: Lord, I Hate Camden Town
It's the graveyard of the fad.
-
How to Be Happy, Young and Jobless
A survival guide for when society thinks your life has no purpose.
-
Milf Teeth: The Notches On Your Bedpost Don't Mean Shit
Your sex gets better when you're learning with one person.
-
I Interviewed My Local UKIP Rep After I Got Him Sacked and Banned
Phillip Collins has been reinstated now, but things were still a bit awkward.
-
What's Going to Kill the House Revival?
Geeks? Shufflers? Americans? Tinchy Stryder?
-
Pretty Girl Bullshit: Is Snapchat Ruining People's Lives?
I'm worried that it is.
-
VICE News: Protest At Thatcher's Funeral
Some people enjoy booing coffins. We went to see just how many.
-
A Big Night Out... at the Worst Club Night Ever?
The "stars" from TOWIE and Milton Keynes, together at last.
-
Thatcher's War on Acid House
She may have got the Falklands, but she couldn't get the pillheads.
-
English Fascists Took Their First Beating of the Summer in Brighton This Weekend
That's what happens when bigots march in England's most liberal city.
Related Shows
-
How they see us.
-
Unembellished documentary footage from the frontlines of the…
-
Cuts from the land with the largest number of Italians.
-
VICE Mexico's finest videos.
-
What all's going on out there.
Jodorowsky's 'Dune' Would Have Been Insane
Salvador Dali was going to play the Emperor. 
Deportee Purgatory
Welcome to Tijuana's El Bordo. 
Arab Spring Break!
My weird night with a bunch of rich kid Egyptians. 
Drunk EDL Hate Mobs Attacked Police
They weren't too happy about it. 
Didi's Trying To Cure Malaria With Sugar And Water
Refugee camps are her homeopathic testing ground. 
Rave And Hardcore Youtube Comments Are Beautiful
They restored my faith in humanity. 
Comments