Israeli protester self-immolates

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TEL AVIV, Israel, July 15 (UPI) -- An Israeli social justice protester set himself ablaze during a Tel Aviv rally marking a year since the first wave of demonstrations began, officials said.

Moshe Silman, of Haifa, was taken to a hospital in critical condition with burns covering 94 percent of his body, Army Radio said Sunday. The report said Silman's family unsuccessfully tried to prevent him from participating in the Saturday night protest.

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called the incident a "personal tragedy," and ordered ministers to investigate.

Before setting himself ablaze, Silman distributed a letter to fellow protesters saying he has been unable to work or pay rent since suffering a stroke. He wrote that the government did not give him any assistance despite his requests.

Portions of the letter published in the Jerusalem Post said: "I have no money for medicine or rent ... I served in the army, and until the age of 46 I served in the reserves ... I will not be homeless, that's why I'm protesting against all the injustices done to me and those like me by the State."

About 10,000 people participated in the Tel Aviv rally Saturday with protests in other Israeli cities to mark a year since the first wave of social justice protests began.