Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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I can’t imagine many poor Jews, and as the news piece says it affects many Arabs in Israel. Proof of racisim in the Israeli state, and the second class status that Arabs have been consigned to.

**Quarter of Israel suffers poverty **

Nearly one in four Israelis lives in poverty, an official report has shown.
Almost 1.6 million people are impoverished, up 45% over the last five years, the National Insurance Institute said on Monday, based on 2004-05 data. Anyone earning less than 1,777 shekels ($358) a month, which was half the national average salary in 2004, was classed as impoverished by the report. In recent years austerity measures have slashed welfare payments in a bid to kick-start Israel’s sluggish economy.

Election issue

“This is not a tsunami or a cyclone that has taken us by surprise,” the director of the National Insurance Institute, Ygal Ben Shalom, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. “We rub shoulders with poverty every day.” Mr Ben Shalom said 46,000 more people fell into poverty between mid 2004 and mid 2005, the period covered by the report. “Thirty-four percent of children in Israel are considered paupers,” he added. Poverty affects more Arab Israeli families than Jewish Israeli ones. It is a major issue in political campaigning for Israel’s general election on March 28. The left-wing Labour party has vowed to address the economic and social problems of the country’s of seven million people. Recent opinion polls put Labour in second place behind the newly formed centrist Kadima party of ailing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

The saddest part is that after experiencing so much racism themselves in thepast, they turn around and inflict racism upon others in their power.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

What a pair of comments.

First, Arabs living in Israel fare as well or better than the poverty and unemployment in neighboring Jordan, Palestinian Territories. Egypt, Syria, etc. Of course you would like to blame Israel, blah blah blah. Just imagine what Isreal could do if they had not fought three wars in 50 years, and were constantly defending themselves.

The reality is that Israel absorbed over 950,000 Jews who fled Russia during the 1990s. Their economy has absorbed a huge population influx. Not only that, but the average per capita income of Isreal is on a par with Kuwait. Of course, Kuwait has oil, and the largest natural resource Israel has is Salt. Thats right, Salt. Kuwaits' economy is 50% dependent on oil, even though the two countries are of similar size.

Perhaps Arabs in Israel would get a little bit better treatment if bombs stopped going off in sandwich shops. And for fairness, how are Jews treated in Arab countries?

Time Pass foR Poetry
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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Muslim treating others Muslims like sh1t isn't news OG.

what is one thing u cant tolerate?
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Neither is blaming it all on the Jews.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Too true.

There are some positive results of poverty amongst any Jews though.

**Jerusalem is Losing its Jewish Majority **

Jerusalem opposition Councilman Nir Barkat told the Herzliya Conference on Monday that Jerusalem is in danger of losing its Jewish majority, adding the Zionist majority has already been lost. Barkat, who lost his bid in the last Jerusalem mayoral race, stated that despite government efforts towards a 70% Jerusalem Jewish majority, reality in the coming years will be closer to 60%, warning of growing migration and the increasing poverty in the capital.

http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=97174

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

[quote=“Ohioguy”]
What a pair of comments.

**First, Arabs living in Israel fare as well or better than the poverty and unemployment in neighboring Jordan, Palestinian Territories. Egypt, Syria, etc. Of course you would like to blame Israel, blah blah blah. **

yep but we are comparing per capita income of arabs versus others in Israel. whats next you will compare black poverty in US to avg income in congo?

**Perhaps Arabs in Israel would get a little bit better treatment if bombs stopped going off in sandwich shops. **

the israeli-arabs made a decision to Live in israel and consider themselves Israeli arabs. They should have the same rights and opportunities. They have no control over what palestinians do and they should nto be held accountable for the actions of someone that they do not control.

And for fairness, how are Jews treated in Arab countries?

two wrongs make a right OG? whats next just because some idiot in a muslim country goes and kidnaps and kills some american, that would then justify you doign te same to me? or atleast doing less harm and just kinda beating me senseless?

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Oh please.

Sure, things should ideally be peachy. I cut the Isrealis a lot of slack because they have a robust economy, a vigorous democracy, and a fairly open society despite being under seige, and attacked from all sides for the past 50 years. Given the circumstances they are doing a damn fine job.

But let's face a couple facts. The only reason this was posted in a largely Muslim bulletin board is to slap Israel, and to present it as a failure. Well, the facts are that there are 1.2BILLION Muslims, a huge portion of them are living in poverty, without the help of the Jews at all. I find that a pertinent fact, and well worth mentioning, despite the goal of this thread to further pound on Israel.

The plight of the Arabs living in Israel is perfectly consistent with the plight of say half a billion Muslims living all over the world. So why pick out only the Muslims/Arabs in Israel? It makes a good read, every good Muslim likes to blame Israel. And frankly the treatment of minority religions in Muslim countries is far worse than the treatment of Arabs in Israel. The comparison is very valid. Over the past 50 years there has been a virtual ethnic cleansing of Christians and Jews from Muslim lands. The treatment of minorities in terms of abuse, civil rights and outright danger in many Muslim lands is horrific, but some how never gets a mention in Gupshup.

On balance I would much rather be an Arab living in Isreal, than a Jew living in virtually any Muslim land.

Now go on, cry me a river.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

*Oh please. *

saying 'uncle' already eh? awwww

*Sure, things should ideally be peachy. I cut the Isrealis a lot of slack because they have a robust economy, a vigorous democracy, and a fairly open society *despite being under seige, and attacked from all sides for the past 50 years. Given the circumstances they are doing a damn fine job. **

fine cut them a lot of slack and yes ecnomically theya re doing fantastic, even if we completely take the hand outs out of the equation. no argument there.

*But let's face a couple facts. The only reason this was posted in a largely Muslim bulletin board is to slap Israel, and to present it as a failure. *

and you will thus go counter it even if others posting in this tread are not in an Israel bashing mode. A simpel answer could be that Israel needs to do a better job in helping minorities and maybe take some lessons from the US in that respect..but that would not make poilitical statements and muslim bashing..right.

while Israel is not a failure, the data suggests it has failed its minority, thus it can do more. This has nothignt o dow ith whethe ryou hate Israel, love Israel or worry about Israel the same amount that you do for burundi, burkina faso or Lesotho.

*Well, the facts are that there are 1.2BILLION Muslims, a huge portion of them are living in poverty, without the help of the Jews at all. I find that a pertinent fact, and well worth mentioning, despite the goal of this thread to further pound on Israel. *

yes, they are living in poor countries, and thus are poor. Its due to the lack of good governance and good programs in teh countries that they are in and there is no excuse for that. Butr in this case they are in a country which is doing well, yet they are not at par with population at general. A sensible approach would be to figure out what is the root cause and to address that via programs targeted to

*The plight of the Arabs living in Israel is perfectly consistent with the plight of say half a billion Muslims living all over the world. So why pick out only the Muslims/Arabs in Israel? *

because compared to teh population at large they are not doing well, It can be partially due to lack of motivation or lack of integration, but that can not be all. in USA there are programs in place to support minority education, business and growth.

It makes a good read, every good Muslim likes to blame Israel.

"every good" muslim likes to blame Israel. Please switch off O'reilly factor and 666 club..err i meant 700 club.

** And frankly the treatment of minority religions in Muslim countries is far worse than the treatment of Arabs in Israel. The comparison is very valid. Over the past 50 years there has been a virtual ethnic cleansing of Christians and Jews from Muslim lands. The treatment of minorities in terms of abuse, civil rights and outright danger in many Muslim lands is horrific, but some how never gets a mention in Gupshup. **

yes things are horrible in muslim countries, and they do get mentioned here many times, but I suppose you dont take the time to read them. And just because things are not right in one place does not make them right in another place even if they are better in comparison.

B]balance I would much rather be an Arab living in Isreal, than a Jew living in virtually any Muslim land. **

sure...its better of the two, but would't you prefer being an Jew living in Israel than ar Arab? That is the point.

Now go on, cry me a river.

I always knew you were a closet justin timberlake fan ;)

anyways me out.. this thread is going no where.

what comes to ur mind when u look at
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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Oh, poor Israelis, my coochie coos, my peachy pies...

How many are dead and dying from bombs in Iraq where a stable economy was present and people lived normal lives?

And spare me the brainfood you are fed about Saddam had to be removed because he was a tyrant and he killed this and that...

If such was the case of removing tyrants, where was America whe 2.5 million were murdered by Pol Pot? Oh, he was there because the Khmer Rouge were put there by the Americans...

Your support for a warmogering nation which has attacked each and every one of its neighbouring nations apart form being an illegitimate installed state which has broken more UN laws than any nation history is pathetic...

Who are you trying to fool here with your lopsided views?

The world knows and it doesn't do anyone good except make you look like a media brainfed goldfish which has lived all its life inside a bowl and spouts the same thing day in and day out...

Just rely on firepower because obviously no one is buying your drivel anymore...

KOI andhaa, behraa, apahij, gonga,
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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Israel is doing a fine job, indeed - not even the US State Dept subscribes to that crap, despite the US govt sending billions each year to sustain Israel.

Israeli Arabs suffer state discrimination

This year’s US State Department annual report on human rights practices in Israel identifies discrimination against Palestinian citizens in most spheres of their lives. It says: “The government did little to reduce institutional, legal, and societal discrimination against the country’s Arab citizens.” Among many issues, it notes the humiliating treatment of Palestinian citizens, including community leaders, during security checks at airports and checkpoints. Last month, Amir Makhul, director of Ittijah, the umbrella organisation for Israel’s Arab non-profit groups, was detained at length and searched by security staff at Ben Gurion airport. The report’s other criticisms confirm a picture that has been familiar from a spate of human rights reports. In 2001, Human Rights Watch published a comprehensive report into the separate education services offered to the Palestinian minority. It found systematic discrimination: in the number, quality and condition of buildings; in classroom sizes and the provision of teaching resources; in funding by the government; and in developing the curriculum. It reserved its harshest criticism for the dire state of special education for disabled Arab children.

Inequality

Israel has also sought to undermine the value of Arabic, even though it is an official language of the state. Few Jews learn even basic Arabic, whereas Arab children are required to learn Hebrew to advanced level. University courses are in Hebrew or English, as are public meetings and court cases. Many Arab workers report being sacked for speaking Arabic at the workplace. Much international attention has focused on the recent decision by the Knesset to ban family unification in the case of marriages between Israeli Arabs and Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. In many cases, it is now impossible for couples to live together: under the new law, Palestinians are denied entry into Israel, while Israeli Arabs are banned by military orders from entering Palestinian areas.

Deprivation

Economically, the Palestinian minority have been suffering the brunt of Israel’s recession. The worst 36 unemployment blackspots in Israel are all Arab localities. Despite the manipulation of the jobless figures, unemployment among Israeli Arabs is twice that of Jews. The country’s big monopoly corporations such as the telecoms firm Bezeq and the Israel Electricity Company have Arab employees in the single figures even though they have a combined staff of more than 20,000. Some of the worst discrimination is faced by the 140,000 beduin living in the Negev. Many of their communities have never been recognised by Israel, even though they predate the state. Consequently, some 70,000 inhabitants have been forced to live in tin shacks or tents, without electricity, water or sewage services, and any municipal services. Young children often have to travel dozens of miles to reach a school.

Victimisation

As part of an attempt by the government to force the beduin off their historic farming lands and into planned urban reservations - to make way for Jewish communities and wealthy Jewish farmers - the government has repeatedly sent in planes to spray beduin crops with herbicides. It has also demolished mosques in the Negev, in line with a long-standing policy of denying state recognition to hundreds of holy places for Christians and Muslims that predate the creation of the Israeli state in 1948. Much of the debate in the Israeli media about the Palestinian minority concentrates on the “demographic threat” Arab citizens pose to the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. In 2002, the government set up a Demography Council of Jewish academics, lawyers and gynaecologists to devise ways to increase the birth rate of the Jewish population and dissuade Arabs from having large families. Removal of child benefits for Arabs have been top of the political agenda ever since. In the past week, transport minister Avigdor Lieberman called for the expulsion of the “Arabs of Israel” on Army Radio. It was not the first time he, and other ministers, had made such racist remarks. Demographic warnings have also been heard from the very top, including a speech in December by the treasury minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He observed: “If there is a demographic problem, and there is, it is with the Israeli Arabs who will remain Israeli citizens.” The minority’s own political representatives have been effectively neutered. None of the Arab parties has ever been allowed to join a coalition government. Their voices have been entirely absent from the decision-making process unless they join Zionist parties.

Campaign

Worse than this, a relentless campaign to discredit and intimidate outspoken Arab politicians has been waged by the government, with almost no scrutiny from the Israeli media. The secular nationalist Azmi Bishara has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity and put on trial for speaking out against the occupation. The spiritual leader Shaikh Raid Salah has been in jail awaiting trial for the past year, originally on charges of supporting terror. It was soon clear there was no basis for the accusation, which has been scaled down to claims of financial irregularities by his Islamic Movement. And four leaders of Ibn al-Balad, a party that seeks a one-state solution, were arrested in February and have since been held in administrative detention without access to lawyers.

shooooo sweeeto..guess karo
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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

Very realistic folks.

Odd, but the first article states that conditions have worsened since the Intifada. Coincidence? Talk to MyVoice sometime about his visits to the Palestinian areas for business. The Territories were at one point quite vibrant, with far more hopeful prospects. My initial visit was ultimately cancelled years ago when a University visit was cancelled due to the intifada.

Loss of tourism, one of the biggest forms of hard currency, and a heavy employer has been a natural outcome of the intifada. Since the intifada, the economy of the Palestinian territories has virtually collapsed. Small frikkin' wonder poverty has increased and Arabs are bearing the brunt. Doh!

What the hell do you guys expect? Do you expect that Arafat's nasty little war would not have consequences? Do you think that Isreali's are miracle workers, Saints and financial geniuses? Sure the Palestinian minorities are suffering an economic downturn. What are you thinking?

**In large part this is due to the completely incompetant leadership of the Palestinians, and the continuing war on Israel. **How can you even post an article on poverty and economic conditions that completely fails to mention the Intifada. Talk about ignoring the elephant in the room! Bombs going off in buses, markets and restaurants, and you think there will be no economic effect? Are you complete idiots?

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OMG!! With all the charity comming from Amreeka still massive poverty....They better off in Europe, in occupied land they have no future.... Once the umbilical cord is cut it will sink like it was never there.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

[quote]
Economically, the Palestinian minority have been suffering the brunt of Israel's recession
[/quote]
It appears as if the Israeli Arabs are the ones suffering from massive poverty. Perhaps they would be better off in Jordan (Palestine).

Oh, wait... GDP per capita in Israel is 5 times than that of Jordan (Palestine). Maybe they have it better in Israel than they would in any Arab country.

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Re: Quarter of Israel suffers poverty

As evident by the flocks of arabs migrating to Israel. Oh wait...

Fact is, those Arabs who are in Israel are there because they don't want to loose their ancestral homes. Those in the occupied territories fair much worse. And it's not for a lack of leadership. Basically, the only way things can get done are to toe the Israeli line. When development itself is being used as a weapon against you, you have no choice but to liberate yourself.

It's not as if Israel is building hospitals and schools throughout the occupied territories. And it's not because of the (rather recent) Intefadah. They've had plenty of time to play nice colonial overlord. They haven't even bothered to do that.

Nor are the Israeli's willing to give citizenship to Palestianis (hehe...democracy would stop working in their favour then)...so they allow this small minority of Arabs to live among them, mostly as menial labour.

I've known plenty of Israeli Arabs, and although they tended to be for peace...they did not hesitate to point out how much better life was in Canada. Why did they stay for so long in Israel? As I said, they refused to leave their ancestral homes. Go figure. Needless to say, it wasn't because Israel was some sort of paradise for them. Also, many simply can't afford to leave.

Now, ask the Palestinians in Jordan where they'd rather be. GDP my arse. That has nothing to do with it.

Insofar as Israel constantly defending themselves, they knew exactly what they were getting into. And their intent from day one was anything but honorable. I mean, buying land from the Ottomans (with the promise of respecting Ottoman law), while in fact sewing the seeds for independence....you can't get lower than that.

It was for this reason that Jews were barred from buying land in the ME shortly after the creation of Israel. Now, what I wan't to know is can those Israeli Arabs buy land in Israel?

If they can, then we can get rid of this whole issue by having the Saudis/Kuwatis,etc pump in money through those Israeli Arabs, and buy back large swaths of Israeli territory.

Anyways, this issue is getting tired. Two more generations, and the demographics will simply cancel out the reason for Israel's existence. All this trouble for an issue that is already solved...pfft.

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I was going to say that, but you said it all. Peace. :blush:

regards,
Nicole.

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hahahahaahah

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Wrong, Israel is currently in the process of creating secure and lasting boarders as well as ones that are demographically friendly to Israel (See the Gaza drop).

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Correct. Israel can try to ‘rid’ itself of the nearly 4.5 million Palestinian’s living in the occupied territories but not of the fast growing 1.5 million Israeli Arabs within it’s borders. No wonder former and still aspiring Prime ministers like Netanyahu have called the Israeli Arabs ‘demographic threat’.

http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/031226/arabs.shtml

So much for equal rights under the law when a former leader of the country’s calls Arabs a threat.

I feel like :(