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Biblical understanding about Israel
No way out for the poor in Jerusalem… <<
The Israeli social aid organization Latet published at the end of 2008 a report that one in four Israelis fear falling into poverty. Further it was stated that 36% of the country's needy actually live in conditions of hunger. 'Latet' listed some of the circumstances that put people into the poverty bracket even though they had jobs. Many, particularly menial jobs, did not supply sufficient income; lack of workplaces; inept government action, rise in food prices and a general drop in donations to the weaker sectors by better off individuals and companies.
In 2008 there was a 50% drop in permanent jobs and a 123% rise in temporary jobs since 2006. Children in 70% of needy families have been unable to participate in school activities due to their parents' inability to finance them, while 80% of needy parents were unable to provide their children with equipment needed for school. Over 50% of the needy do not get the required medical treatment or medication due to their financial situation, and 62% of the needy do not have health insurance. Only 9% can afford dental care and 18% are chronically ill, while 10% of the needy said they know someone who died due to an inability to fund medical care.
As predicted by 'Latet', 2009 continues to show a decline in the quality of life of the poorest sectors of Israeli society. Matters are made worse by the fact that the US dollar continues its decline in value against the Israeli Shekel, as does the British Pound and, to a lesser extent, the Euro. Scores of many Israeli export orientated companies have either closed down, or reduced staff, as the value of their merchandise falls in shekel terms as other currencies show their weaknesses against an ever stronger shekel. All this makes the poorer strata of Israeli society even worse off than they were in 2008.