Akiva Mapiai, 45, died in a hospital near Tel Aviv on Tuesday night from first and second-degree burns over 70 percent of his body, sustained when he set himself on fire two weeks ago in protest over his economic plight.

This is the second case of an immolation-related death in Israel in recent weeks.

On July 14, Moshe Silman set himself ablaze during a social justice rally. He cited his financial difficulties as the reason for the action and blamed the state of Israel for "robbing me of everything and leaving me with nothing." He died a week later at the hospital.

According to eye witnesses who were present during Mapiai's self-destruction at a bus stop, he shouted that he was in debt prior to the act. He also told his brother several days beforehand that he planned to follow in Silman's steps.

A family member told The Jerusalem Post that Mapiai had threatened suicide in the past over "impossible bureaucracy."

He was injured during a training accident at age 23 and several years later suffered a stroke. He was under the care of social services, both through the National Insurance Institute and the Israeli Defense Forces, which recognized his disability.

In recent weeks, Akiva told family members he was in despair from fighting for his rehabilitation rights and other benefits accrued him as a disabled veteran, both from social services and the army.

He decided to fight for his rights and took part in protest rallies, and hired a lawyer to help him get his benefits, which put him into even bigger debt.

Due to his difficult financial situation, he was assigned a social worker and a court guard.

There were nearly a dozen attempts to copycat Silman's actions in recent weeks due to financial difficulties.

On Tuesday, another man tried to set himself on fire in Jerusalem outside the National Insurance Institute Building due to what he said was his dire economic situation.

However, a nearby policeman who realized what was happening tackled the man and prevented him from setting himself on fire.