Business
Fischer: Haredi, Arab poverty up 50%
Tani Goldstein
Published: 23.03.11, 14:28
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
18 Talkbacks for this article
1. Unemployment among Israeli-Arabs
Rami of Nazareth ,   Israel   (03.23.11)
While unemployment in the Haredi sector is mainly because they don't want to work. Israeli-Arabs are eager to work and contribute to Israel’s economic success. Decades of neglect and discrimination has to come to an end. It's about time the government invest in this sector which will only make Israel stronger and more prosperous.
2. this was exactly the intention
observer   (03.23.11)
By cutting state benefits, poverty would increase. Even Arik Sharon could make that calculation.
3. endemic problem
nadav ,   tel aviv   (03.23.11)
The State cannot always provide a solution or force one upon minority populations who refuse to work or refuse to let their women work. Arab men do work, and they should be given all the opportunity to do so! But they should also allow their women to join the work force full time! as for haredim, the rabbis brainwashing of this meek community needs to end! the Haredim need to be forcibly educated and forced to work!
4. It's good to hear, Rami, that you refer to
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (03.23.11)
your fellow Arabs as Israeli Arabs and not Palestinians. Furthermore, you make an apt suggestion as to what would be in the interests of the whole state of Israel as opposed to just one segment ... your own. Of course, you're right. But it's one of the few times I've read on Ynet an Israeli Arab expressing himself as such and making a suggestion which would be advantageous to the whole society. So that's very positive, Rami. I wish we'd hear more from people like you. And, incidentally, from my (limited) perspective, it appears that the Arab political parties do not care a lick about the realistic needs of the ordinary Israeli Arab, just grandstanding while representing a yet-to-be state of Palestine. Would I be correct, in your estimation? And, if I am right, then, admittedly, Israeli Arabs need a political outlet which actually purports to look after their own betterment, not some fictitious yet-to-be state.
5. The first people to be hired should be
jason white ,   afula, israel   (03.23.11)
veterans of the I.D.F. The rest do not count as they gave nothing to the country. Make sure that vets are first to be admitted to institutes of higher education and trade schools. Fischer does not know this as he never served in the I.D.F.
6. Such utter nonsense.
Ron ,   Melbourne, Australia   (03.24.11)
The proclamation of discrimination based on some statistical analysis without examination of all the processes involved over time (i.e. understanding the whole process of causality) - amounts to voodoo statements. By that analysis Jews as largest group benefiting from Nobel prize must be fa result of discrimination by Christians against Christians or Asian having higher rates of bank loan approvals in the US they whites are a result of discrimination of white people by whites owned banks. The Arab minority in Israel is sizable and sufficiently established (and without the burden of serving 3 years in the Army, at least a month per year, etc) and enjoys higher level of education then Arab countries around. There is nothing which stops them from developing an entrepreneurial spirit and developing their own high tech industry while benefiting from the high tech advantages of Israel as compared to the countries around. They could have, as an example, develop software for the Arab world. Even if they did not share full access to Israel high tech industry the ability to engage experts etc (as money talks) still puts them at a competitive advantage against most of the Arab world (and most of the rest of the world). The high tech industry in Israel was not a decree by government but rather started by pioneering individuals with government much later jumping on the band wagon. While government can assist the High Tech industry it is the entrepreneurial spirit which sustains and grows it (otherwise countries with higher spend would have been at the forefront and it is easily demonstrated that it is not the case). What the complaint here is that they want to benefit from the Entrepreneurial spirit but not put their own investment in it - i.e. a Charity case. While I am appose to discrimination the 'goodwill' perception of people (right or wrong) is part of their assessment of the individual. If the Israeli Arabs had been focused on developing software and other high tech firms, growing them, raising their own 'goodwill' by their own 'bootstraps' then the barriers would be reduced or, perhaps, even eliminated. But in this day and age people are more concerned with what they view is their 'right entitlement' and less with demonstrating their contribution by way of effort, mental abilities ,etc. If they were focused on being industrious they would have faired much better and demonstrated to any potential employer or partner the downside of not employing them. But the issue here is gain with no effort......
7. Re: #3 Society can prosper without women working
Michael ,   Exile   (03.24.11)
I think that women should work, but women not working should not result in poverty. I know many many mothers that do not work and few women worked in the 50s during a time when America was very prosperous.
8. Rami: my great grandfather was given a shovel and a pickaxe
Genuine Moshe   (03.24.11)
when he arrived to Caiffa (today Haifa) from Algeria, courtesy of his "Imperial Majesty" Abdülaziz I. There was no social security, no minimal wage, no unemployment benefits and no jobs back then. You are right to revendicate a job as an Israeli (be it Arab or Jew), but in Israel as in other developed countries, jobs are no longer a commodity.
9. Better headline...
Nick Sporek ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (03.24.11)
....Brainwashed, Uneducated and Lazy People Putting a Strain on Everyone Everyone Else.
10. NIS 1.866 Shekel for 1 person and NIS 4.778 Shekel for 4
michael redbourn ,   Arad - Israel   (03.24.11)
Based on 2005 figures. The definiton of poverty in Israel is related to the income of NIS 1.866 Shekel for a single person and NIS 4.778 Shekel for a family of four. The minimum wage is around 21 nis per hour, which based on a 40 hour week would be around 3,360 nis a month. So a single person can live on his or her minimum wage but in the case of a family of four then both parents must work: one at least part time. So what exactly is the poverty rate based on?
11. #4 - yes you would be correct in my estimation.
michael redbourn ,   Arad - Israel   (03.24.11)
"It appears that the Arab political parties do not care a lick about the realistic needs of the ordinary Israeli Arab, just grandstanding while representing a yet-to-be state of Palestine". #4 - yes you would be correct in my estimation. BTW - I think most Israelis make a distinction between Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. I do and so does everybody I know.
12. The fiction of Unemployment in Arab sector
Carl   (03.24.11)
I live on a farm and work with Arabs. I can tell you that it is rare to receive a receipt when you do business with an Arab tradesman. They work as much as the Jews. They don't give receipts and don't pay taxes so they appear unemployed in the statistics. Look at the Haredi neighborhoods and you see poverty. look at the houses in Arab villages. Where is the poverty?
13. #4 "forcibly educate them and force them to work"
Haredi who works ,   Dearborn, MI, USA   (03.24.11)
Yes, because people respond so well to coercion. {did you feel my dripping sarcasm?}
14. # 4, 11
Thomas ,   US   (03.24.11)
Who are you guys kidding? The only time the Arabs in Israel identify as Israelis is when they want money (like Rami in Nazareth) or when someone like Lieberman suggests transferring their communities to the PA. Their elected reprsentatives in the Knesset who call the founding of the State of Israel a catasrophe represents their way of thinking and it's no different from those people in Gaza and West Banks. The only difference is that the people in Gaza and West Bank are willing to struggle and sacrifice for the independence while Arabs in Israel will only go so far as to whine racism whenever possible and wave the Palestinian flag to the same people they fear separting from.
15. Thomas #14: I think you make a valid
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (03.24.11)
point, Thomas, in so far as Israeli Arabs whine and complain and blame the state when they don't get what they want but use the "patriotic" tone when it suits them but, on the other hand, they also face racism in our society plus you overgeneralize. There are Israeli Arabs who will make it clear that they much prefer to be part of the state of Israel as compared to becoming part of a Palestinian state. What we do need to do is to make it a requirement that they complete National Service just as we require it of all other peoples (Charedim so far excluded). National Service would benefit young Arabs and would increase the possibility of better integration into our society as well. At any rate, I think my level approach is not pollyannish and I would entreat you to re-evaluate your own perspective.
16. Emet.
MSC ,   Rosh Pinna   (03.25.11)
Anyone who does not serve the country deserves to be second class citizens. It is really that simple. Let them all sit in poverty, Jew and Arab alike.
17. So Jason, answer me honestly........
American Sabrah ,   Givas Shmilkeh   (03.25.11)
Is your diatribe also directed at Olim who have not served in the IDF as well? Was it not enough that we sacrificed our comfortable lifestyles to fulfill our dreams living in Israel that doesn't have the same commodities? Are Olim included in your bigotry as well? It doesn't matter that I am a woman and the IDF wouldn't have any use for me. But you can bet your ass that I have just as much academic credentials and qualifications to find employment here. Just because I haven't had the opportunity to serve in the IDF doesn't render me useless nor lower my value to the Israeli society.You do not take precedent over everyone else just because you ironically happen to be a veteran or because you have protexia. You better think before you speak.It you who really needs to learn how to live in the real world.
18. #5
Zvi ,   Israel   (03.25.11)
Wrong, like usual. The people who need to be hired are Olim. Olim, Olim Olim. We move here because we want to contribute. Most of us are exempted for various reasons - usually age. Many of us contribute in other ways, be it in hi-tech, medical and legal fields or volunteering our time to various organizations. Us Olim would serve - if drafted. But we aren't. And it is jerks like you who use IDF service as a prerequisite for work that make Olim suffer until they are forced to make Yerida because they cannot support themselves as the decent jobs and education are blocked to them because of protexia and lack of IDF service, which usually isn' their fault. Shut your mouth, leave Afula and get a clue.
Back to article