Thousands of Dimona residents took to the streets of the Negev town on Sunday in protest of rising unemployment in Israel’s underdeveloped cities, which was exacerbated by recent layoffs announced by Israel Chemicals, one of the country’s largest fertilizer and metal manufacturers, the JPost reported.

Demonstrators have blocked traffic on Route 25 in both directions.

The protest was attended by prominent figures from the opposition, including Labor Party MK Shelly Yachimovich and Yisrael Beytenu MKs Sopha Landver and Sharon Gal.

The head of Dead Sea Factories’ workers union, Armond Lancry, told the protesters that he was renouncing his membership in the ruling Likud Party to protest what he felt was the government’s failure to prevent job losses.

“Mr. Prime Minister, perhaps I will say this in words that you will understand,” he said. “Our natural resources are moving in droves abroad, with the approval of the parties in the coalition.”