Israel's sluggish economy and growing number of protests

In occupied Palestine, protests against Netanyahu's government are intensifying by the day. One of the reasons for these protests is the economic hardship and misery of the Israelis.

A survey conducted by the Histadrut, Israel's General Union of Labor, shows troubling information about the economic condition of Israelis.

• 28% of respondents to the study said that they had avoided medical care at least once owing to the high cost.

•69% of those polled said that the high cost of living increased their mental stress.

• 33% of respondents reported beginning to get financial assistance from family, friends, charity organisations, the welfare ministry, or the municipality.

• 61% of respondents in the survey are looking for a second job to supplement their current one.

• 60% of survey respondents stated they would not purchase more items and services than previously.

• 25% percent of respondents were unable to save their monthly income.

• 36% of survey respondents reported having no funds to handle unanticipated bills.

The ratings of Israel's national insurance programmes for 2021, as reported by Israel Hayom, placed Israel at the bottom of the list of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In 2021, the poverty line was set at 2,849 shekels ($834) per person and 5,698 shekels ($1,668) per couple each month.

Meanwhile, the depth of poverty (the gap between family income and the poverty line) rose from 38.7% in 2020 to 39.4% in 2021. As a result, 21% of Israeli families lived in sheer poverty in 2021, up from 20.5 percent in 2020.

The elderly have experienced the greatest increase in poverty, which appears to be linked to the expiration of subsidies in 2020, as well as their low labour force participation and difficulties returning to work following the relaxation of Corona-virus limits.

Poverty seems to be concentrated in Jerusalem's [Bayt al-Muqaddas] suburbs and among ultra-Orthodox communities, in terms of geographical distribution.

There is poverty in 38.7% of Bayt al-Muqaddas households, 32% of Bnei Brak households, and 44% of Rahat City families. With a population of around 80,000, Modi'in Illit was projected to be the poorest city, followed by Beit Shamsh.

More than 100,000 demonstrators indicate that Netanyahu faces a challenge in persuading the public and the Knesset to embrace his reforms. The crucial issue is that these changes have a direct impact on people's standard of living.

By: Z. Hakim-Bashi