According to the latest poverty report released by Bituach Leumi on Tuesday 14 Teves 5774; the number of Israelis living under the poverty level has dropped slightly in 2012. One must remember the report refers to a period prior to the current administration, which implemented significant cuts in welfare and assistance programs.
Interestingly, Bituach Leumi researchers involved in preparing the report admit one must take the facts and figures with “limited liability and a measure of caution”. One reason for this is the fact that for the first time ever, the Central Bureau of Statistics researched poverty in Israel using different parameters than in previous years.
The norm is the report is released towards the end of the Gregorian year but the report released this week refers to 2012, not 2013, and therefore, it does not relate in any way to the decisions of the current administration, which experts add have sent an additional 50,000 children to join the ranks of the nation’s poor.
Taking all of this into consideration, the report is still alarming for it shows at the end of 2012, 1,754,700 Israeli were under the poverty line, representing 23.5% of the population. 817,000 of the poor are children!
· 1,754,700 Israelis are poor, 23.5% of the general population. In 2011, the percentage of poor was 24.8%
· 439,500 families are poor (19.4%)
· 817,200 children are poor (33.7%)
· 22.7% of the nation’s elderly is poor as compared to 19.4% in 2011
Perhaps one of the worrisome figures is the increase in the number of ‘working poor’, which is categorized as a family with at least two people working. In 2011 that figure stood at 4.6% and in 2012, it reached 5%. It has doubled since 2003.
From the viewpoint of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) nations, Israel’s poverty level ranks third from last among member nations. Ironically, Israel moved up from last place in 2011 but now, in 2012, Chile and Mexico are behind Israel.
The responses are nothing other than the expected ones. Chareidi MKs blame the current administration for the harsh economic policies and cuts in monthly child allowance payments. Others point an accusing finger at chareidim for breeding ignorance that perpetuates the poverty among its tzibur. They refer to the fact that chareidi yeshivos do not teach secular subjects. For proponents of the chareidi draft law, they feel this is proof of the need to integrate chareidim into society and the workplace towards ending the growing cycle of poverty and the IDF service is the formula to accomplish this.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Its not hard to explain the poverty going on here. For starters the price for food keeps rising and rising! Taxes went up to 18% which is beyond insanity !! I myself pay hundreds of dollars each month for “private” doctors who are not covered by insurance. I’ve had too many unpleasant experiences with doctors recommended by my carrier. To make things worse the shekel is beyond low, and last but not least the minimum wage her is 23 NIS which is about $6.00 .
Shame on Lapid and on the rest of the Govt. They are busy making budget cuts on the Chareidi communities expense. DONT THEY REALIZE WE TOO PAY TAXES???? An embaressment for them!!