Vicki Knafo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vicki Knafo ויקי קנפו
Born	1960
Nationality	Israeli
Occupation	Social activist

Vicki Knafo (Hebrew: ויקי קנפו; born 1960) is an Israeli social activist. She became well-known in 2003 for leading a protest by single mothers. They were protesting against new government rules that cut financial help for children. These rules were part of a plan by the finance minister at the time, Binyamin Netanyahu, to reduce government spending. The cuts mainly affected welfare programs and aid for groups like single mothers.

Vicki Knafo's Protest March

The Start of the Journey

On July 2, 2003, Vicki Knafo began a long walk from her home in Mitzpe Ramon, a town in southern Israel. Her goal was to reach the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem. She walked along main roads and smaller paths, carrying an Israeli flag.

A Week-Long Walk for Change

The march was about 205 kilometers (127 miles) long and took her a whole week to complete. As she walked, other single mothers and families joined her. The media followed her closely, and her journey became a big national story. When she arrived in Jerusalem, she joined a protest camp set up by single mothers in front of government buildings. Her arrival brought a lot of media attention to the mothers and families there.

Public Reaction and Support

At first, Binyamin Netanyahu, who was the finance minister, told Knafo to "Go to work!" However, public pressure on him grew. Many groups joined the protest, including people advocating for disability rights and the elderly. Vicki Knafo was often interviewed and quoted by the media. The protest she symbolized was sometimes called "The July Revolution" or "Revolt of the Poor." She gained support from various social groups, including Ahoti, a Mizrahi feminist movement, and the New Israel Fund. Some Mizrahi feminists from Ahoti even joined her to help protect her from the police, who tried to stop her march several times.

Hunger Strike and Its End

In August, Vicki Knafo and other leaders of the mothers' movement started a hunger strike. Knafo fasted for 18 days. She finally agreed to stop her strike at the President's home, after he asked her to and showed support for her cause. However, as the protest continued, some disagreements started among the people in the protest camp. Some wanted to make the protest bigger by blocking roads, but Knafo preferred to keep protesting peacefully. On September 25, 2003, Knafo left the camp and went home.

Vicki Knafo After the Protest

Continuing Public Involvement

Vicki Knafo has continued to appear in the media and at public events. In 2003, she was part of the Israeli group that attended the launch of the Geneva Initiative, which was a peace plan.

Later Activities

In October 2006, Knafo joined the Meretz political party. In 2011, she became a spokesperson for the supermarket chain Mega Bull. This decision caused some discussion, with some people feeling she was no longer fully representing the protest movement. In November 2016, Knafo went on another march. This time, she walked to the home of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with other activists. Their slogan was "two year budget with social corrections," asking for changes to the national budget. In January 2019, Knafo joined the cast of the Israeli version of Celebrity Big Brother.

Personal Life and Work

Vicki Knafo is divorced and has three children. She is also a vegan. She works at a hotel in Mitzpe Ramon. Before that, she worked in housekeeping at a residential school, often holding two part-time jobs at once. She has spoken about being an "outsourced" worker, meaning she was hired through a company rather than directly by her employer. She once said, "I don't have a pension, or benefits, and I can't even think about my old age." She also commented on discussions about raising the minimum wage, saying she worried it might harm workers like her.

Images for kids

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  Vicki Knafo in 2016