More than 25% of Israeli families lived under poverty line in 2021

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
13 Jan 2023 12:38

More than twenty percent of "Israel's" 9.6 million settler population, including 853,000 children and 213,000 elderly, were considered poor in 2021.

Bank of "Israel" employee holds new shekel bills during a press conference at the bank's headquarters in Al-Quds on 10 September 2014. (AFP)

The poverty rate in "Israel" increased to 26% in 2021, implying that one in every four Israeli households was unable to cover monthly expenses due to financial constraints, according to an official report.

Of "Israel's" 9.6 million settler population, about 20%, meaning around 1.95 million people, were considered poor in 2021.

"More than 1 in 4 households in 'Israel' (26%) were unable to cover all monthly expenses in 2021, with 10.6% of settler households forgoing medical treatment and 6.9% going without buying prescription drugs,” the report said.

The poverty line in "Israel" in 2021 was approximately 2,849 shekels for individuals, 5,698 shekels for couples, and between 9,117 and 12,108 shekels for couples with 2 to 4 children.

The NII's director general, Yarona Shalom, stated that "Israel" has been battered for years by poverty and inequality, emphasizing that Israelis have felt the inflation and economic malaise since the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

"To deal with the disparities in society, an increase in allowances is required on the one hand and on the other hand providing tools and assistance to families and individuals who are in the labor market but whose salary is low, with an emphasis on the periphery," the NII’s director general said.

Amid the lack of stability and social security in the occupied territories, thousands of illegal Israeli settlers marched in two rallies that roamed "Tel Aviv" on January 8th in protest of Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, regarded as "Israel's" most right-wing cabinet.

The demonstrators repeated chants against the new Israeli occupation government and some of its extremist ministers such as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, as per Israeli media.

Following his November 1 election win, Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with extreme-right and Zionist parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries. The new occupation government has announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.