I made aliyah just over 2 years ago. I have a BA and just finished my MA, plus I have several years of quality work experience. We chose to live in the North because of family and the belief of strengthening the periphery. However, I and my colleagues cannot find work that pays us more than 5,000 shekels a month (gross), and those jobs are few and far between. That is why many are forced to move to the center where the jobs pay slightly more, and their rents are insane. With 2 kids in daycare on top of every other exorbitant expense like gas, food, we are really struggling to break even. The Zionist spirit which originally led me to move here has long faded away, and I do not believe in the future of this country unless things change.

No wonder the younger generation are not so keen to serve in the army. ie serving your country that serves you very very little..

When I was a young woman, in the late 1970s US, it was really hard to get a house. High prices, high interest rates. I got my education, got married, we went to work and started saving. I didn't waste money on trips to third world countries. We lived frugally for years in order to make aliyah and buy a home. Our first home was in the Sharon because we could get a nice, small single family house cheaper than a sardine can in the city. These protesters want more socialisms. That is what strangled this country's economy until the last 11 years. We need more free market solutions. If people want a stake in the eonomy, they are free to buy stocks in companies. You save a little, buy some stocks. Save some more, buy some more stocks. I've done well by carefully investing. Anyone can do it. Then you get to vote in the company's board of directors. You dont need to be Shari Arison to own a piece of the pie, even if its a small piece.

There can not be a welfare state and a capitalist private enterprise state in one. They are contradictory idea's. Welfare states go broke because they create ever larger controlling non productive governments and ever higher taxes to fund themselves, moreover they create a lazy and insolent population. Capitalist states produce an ever widening gap between rich and poor which disrupts the feeling of unity in a nation. Israel regrettably has to have high taxes even in a capitalist system due to the constant need for defense & security. The only thing the present (good) government MUST do is see that there is FREE competition and that any price cartels should be broken.

My husband and I have been saving since day one...when we have some on the side, that will go towards a downpayment to buy a house. If taxes on everything here weren't so ridiculous, maybe we would have enough left to invest in stocks.

In case there were any doubts about the political motivations of the protestors, the appearance of David Grossman and anarchist Aviv Gefen dispelled them. The protests are just a back door way for the left to try to get rid of Bibi. The whole "social" issue is just BS and cover for the Left.

It was not meant to belittle real distress or the serious social problem we have regarding high prices, high taxes and low wages. My apologies to anyone who may have been offended by my earlier comment.

has "made it" and now takes comfort in that fact dismissing the enormous difficulties encountered by young families. I reside in a Yishuv in Gush Etzion. Even there, the cost of land has skyrocketed beyond the pocketbooks of young families (unless backed by wealthy grandparents) and the government blocks most attempts at creating and establishing new businesses and industries. Cost of home ownership west of the Green Line is inevitably higher no matter where you go. There's something of smug and self-satisfied about you, an especially unwelcome traits in an older person who might actually have become a model and a leader for younger folk. There are many like you, unfortunately; just look at the roll of Posters.

Finally Israelis are imitating the Arabs.

Allow for the individual to decide what the cost of living should be as opposed to the taxpayer subsiding an "individual right." I pleased the Israeli youth read read "Freedom and Capitalism"by Milton Friedman, The government is not going to be the solution for the housing crisis. Blaming the rich and using class warfare will not make the housing crisis affordable.

Jerusalem 10,.000?? gimme a break maybey 2,000 at most in Tel Aviv they deliberately didnt have the rally in Rabin Square as they could never have filled it with 100,000. The cause is legitimate but the numbers are not so stop hurting the cause with typical left wing propaganda and why no photo of the huge poster of Che Guevera. Media stop using this cause for your own left wing agenda ie bringing down the current govt to be replace by the left it wont happen forget it stick to the issues!

Once again it seems the media is in hysteria mode a feeding frenzy in its hope to bring down " a right wing government " and all means to that end are justified why no photos of the huge Chez Guevera Poster or reports of the attacks on the Haradim & citizens of Judea and Samaria THe general public is much more aware of media tricks and agendas then you think ,THe cause is just but the media is not!

#64 MindRider has it right. Those who protest for more equitable distribution of wages, taxes and benefits FOR WORKING PEOPLE are right and I commend and support them. But beware of your naïve and tunnel-visioned welfare-statist "friends" who would steer Israel down the same path as the Soviet Union and which Greece, Spain and even the US are trying to escape. These ignorant folk think that money can simply be printed and no one should have to earn their way. That is a society of parasites doomed to financial collapse and take over by a strong dictator--NOT a pluralist, multireligious utopia they love to proclaim. If you protest for equitable distribution of wages, taxes and benefits FOR WORKING PEOPLE then you'd better distinguish yourselves from the welfare-statists that so many of us won't stand for. The borders are open. Let all parasites go to Greece, Spain or the U.S.--or the Soviet Union~ Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-observant Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Discrete Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah (When questions to me go unanswered, they have refused to post it. Find our reply in our Web Café at www.netzarim.co.il)

I, too, am an American who worked hard--IN THE US--and paid for a home THERE, free and clear. When I came here, the sale price of our American house and land was merely a downpayment on a small apartment here in Ra'anana and we continue to work hard 2 decades later to make ends meet. We'd be among those poor if it weren't for the start-up money--modest by western standards--that we brought with us. Couples starting out here without the benefit of that American start-up money have it nearly impossible--unless they're from one of the wealthy families here. Olim from western countries should keep their special advantage in mind and realize that young Israeli couples don't have--and cannot save up--that start-up price. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-observant Jew: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Advocate for Discrete Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming all who choose to keep Torah (When questions to me go unanswered, they have refused to post it. Find our reply in our Web Café at www.netzarim.co.il)

Like we have in Norway, the average total tax-burdon is 72%. Standard income taxes; 25 to 50%. Extra earnings more than 50%. Standard VAT/food/service: 25% Gasoline/Gas: More than 80%. Imported new cars toll: 200%-300%. Are you really fighting for this? A young couple need a 15-20 years loan to pay for an apartment. By the way,doctors earn more than 900.000 shekel a year....But, sorry, it is hard to live in a country where only political correctness or rightist hate is allowed in media.

It's nothing 'but plitical. Protesting for social change is legitimate, but when you start 'waving red flags & pictures of Che Guevara of all people, throwing stinkbmbs at Akirov buildings, asking Bibi to resign (like labour had more social 'justice) ... than you're protesting with a 'political agenda and not for the good of the poor. Social injustice is everywhere in the US & Europe and people have to learn to """make choises in their 'spending pattern""", something that Israeli's never do. To live with 'overdraft is normal, no it's not. Those who are protesting should learn the 'realities of other Western countries. US & EU and most of the worlds countries can't pride themselves to have such 'low unemplyoment & such a 'high GDPfigure. I don't know how much dokters in Israel earn, but I have dokters in my family and they don't earn fortunes. Finding affordable houses (exept Belgium) is difficult, so many young people move in with parents or have mountains of debts. So life is no paradise or easier in Europe or the US. These protests are 80% about politics and 20% about social injustice!

Guys, this is not about socialism or capitalism, this is about Israelis being ONE family. Including Gercha asher beShaarecha. As soon as we divide our country in a few rich and many poor, this will be the end of the Zionist dream. That is more dangerous for Israel than dividing Jerusalem. And therefore we have to find a solution for us, without being afraid from keywords like socialism or capitalism. In the end we will have to find a tailor made mixture of both.

I can only say, FINALLY! I lived in Israel and left 2 years ago. I was a single mom with one kid, living outside Tel Aviv by far, being selfemployed... It was mission impossible... Due to foreign clients the bank didn't accept my income in $ and €, because the manager wanted them to be in NIS. Tax on the otherhand was more then happy to accept my income and Bituach Leumi thought I earned more then enough in order to get anything! They were willing to get child support from the non-paying father, but decided that because I earn enough myself, I don't deserve the child support and wanted to keep it for themselves... What is wrong with that picture. In the meantime bank managers finished my savings in stead of giving me a loan when needed, and laughed in my face. And when I think about all those kids hanging outside because the parents are working hard, living in poverty, when I think about all the begging people in the streets, at your door, for money to help poor souls... Finally, the people of Israel are waking up!!!!!!!!!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

I agree with you. The country needs to encourage business competition instead of monopolies. Salaries should increase with a bonus included as an incentive to encourage work productivity. People shouldn't be hired based on who they know but rather on what they know and can do.Everyone should be granted the opportunity to advance in this country through their merits. Protexia is a symbol of socialism. The histadrut must be disbanded. Get rid of commision fees in banks. I feel these protesters plight but I don't agree with their approach. Bringing down the government won't resolve their issues. I'm worried that they will try to put Tzipi Livni or Amir Peretz in power who wants to turn Israel into a welfare state which is very disconcerting.

"Right wing are more racist and Leftist are more tolerant". About which tolerant '''Leftists are you talking, Chrutsov, Stalin, Castro, Chavez, just to name a few? The 'golden rule is, and has never been 'proven wrong.......""The 'Right works for the money to let the 'Left spend it again"".

What about the 'single moms with kids in Holland, now 'they are a fortunate bunch of people. They get loans when they 'just open their mouth, children's daycare is for nothing, Dutch bankmanagers are just there to help them and housing is cheap & easy. About the $/EUR not being accepted by the Israeli bank....they did you a favour. Shekel just went up & up, while the other valuta's went down & down. Who are you kidding?

The gap between the few rich families and the huge amount of "regular" people who work their royal behind off, has to be made smaller. I still have a lot of friends in Israel and their situations is hard. And prices for food, gas, living, housing should go down! Trust me. the last thing I want is a left wing Knesseth... I have seen what Rabin en Peres did by bringing the biggest terrorist to Gaza, after which the whole situation escalated. I have seen what left wing did in the Netherlands and we pay here also a lot of tax (80% of our income). Mostly due to payments we make to stupidities of EU and EU-countries... But beware... Israel can't go on like this... the normal working people are the ones who help the country go and without them even those 19 rich families have no country!

This is not a fun game nor a political one - it's the down-to-earth truth ! I've lived here since '55 and have witnessed the dramatic changes over the years. These young people are stating their case and the reality of the cost of living here today. They want to stand on their own two feet. Not every parent can support their grown children.

How detached from reality a person can be? Do you really think you know what are you talking about? You supposed to be proud of our people, it was about time that the middle-class raise its head and shout as loud as it can, "We want to buy a house, we had enought of this OCD, IMF "governament proud" by the time that families hardly can give to their children a decent life.". I had enough of the cynical allegations that we don't see how good our life is comparing to other 3rd world contries, first of all because we are very far from being one of them. We have a government that is addicted to taxes; but what they do with those taxes? 1. Not enought hospital beds and medical teams. 2. The pension age is being raised every PMs cadence. 3. Old people dig on the markets garbage to find food. 4. The salaries of a well educated couple (me - computer engineer and my wife - MA Business Administration) is not enough to buy us a house of our own. 5. and on and on ...... Please live the obtuseness behind and open your eyes and heart for the things that are happening around you!!!!

I just noted the withdrawal of your uncanny earlier remark, which I could not resist my retort.

You are only partly correct. A lot of middle aged Israelis have inherited homes and money from their deceased parents., with NO INHERITANCE TAXES. Many of them are now doing very well. If my parents go, most of it ends up with Uncle Sam.

Govt.should be paying you 500NIS to watch tv and not the other way around. (even if they payed me 2000NIS,I wouldn't!)

Did you not see that in my post? If they have a home & money to pass down, in my book, they're a wealthy family.