How heroic of you to suffer and cut back on life's commodities. But why should you? I see doctors and academics earn redicilously low wages, while some people cash redicilous amounts of money each month. Ok, some of the protestors have a high income but you know what? They joined the protest not because they don't earn enough, but because they work abroad and fly around and see how in comparison to others, Israelis are being ripped off. The poor feel it and the rich see it. What interest do you have in making the Stauss family rich and fat? And concerning the Foreign Interference thesis: Cleaning and tidying one's house is nothing to be ashamed about, and nothing one has to hide from the neighbors.

Hey Ed, how many more screeds should we expect from you? Goldenstein seems to have really gotten under your skin. I read his piece and I foung it rather well written. As for your critique of "Goldenshtein's" writing abilities this is not some middle school english class so get over your bloviating self and find some other pressing issue to occupy your fevered mind.

IF you CAN'T support 5 children, DON'T HAVE 5 children. Join the seculars in their struggle against the Haredi scam, how can they pay education fee for 10 children, and not complain?

Why don't you stop using google translate and learn some English before you respond to my talkback.

Pulled no punches.

all the power to you!!!!

You really don't get it, do you?

the response is clear and addressed to Alexander ,.....make a generality by taking a "extreme sample" is related to the roots you belonging and the frame you grew in ...sorry but Israel is NOT USSR ..I am deeply sure that the Digital Paper you wrote doesn't worth very much and your analyze touch only people that didn't freed yet from the communist model you come from

Sir! I can't agree with you anymore. You should countinue not posting at all. Your writing is far superior and I think you should just stop reading altogether. It's beneath you. We are all embarrassed that you even have to make a comment here. I feel smarter just to know that you dislike this article. Your comment here is as useless as my talkback to you. Do you get that? If you have nothing nice to say then just keep it to yourself.

It's far too top heavy, far to reaching in their ability to paralyze the country, and are filled with leaders who are far too rich.

It's entitled "I want it all"

that during those years where Labor was in power, they did NOTHING to help the middle class nor the economy (though they themselves accumulated wealth and power for their members) and their major accomplishments were allowing Arafat and his band of PLO terrorists to return to the region, and handing land for peace to people who are not shy about demanding our own destruction. It was Labor and Kadima that caused military catastrophes over the past 10 years. So please....do add a bit of context when you try to paint Likud in a bad light.

Perhaps its like comparing Israeli oranges to Calif.grapefruit?. My county (has 10m people and growing). Latins are over 50% and growing. If not for the entertainment industry, the county would be bankrupt. Leave it to the Jewish enterprise. But there is NO rivalry between we Jews, as in Israel..secular vs Orthodox,, US born, vs Israelis vs Iranian vs Russian. We do not fight one another, as in Israel.live and let live. We have civil AND religious marriages...Israel could learn. BTW, viewing the freeways in the morning, millons of people live outside the center city, or rich Westside, and commute daily. Yes its a haggle, but cheaper (cept for gas). I cannot believe, that a small country like Israel, with a GDP of over 220b, cannot find solutions for doctors, cottage cheese prices, rentals ad baby carriage frills? Politics is everywhere it seems. 5,000 units planned in controversial areas ( Jerusalem), which creates "concerns". Why not build elsewhere in Israel..like the Negev? Israel boasts Congressional jaunts,and shoots itself in the foot. The announcement came prematurely...wait until after Sept. my friend in the ministry. Abbas is still insisting on NO SETTLEMENTS in HIS Palestine. No settements? Does he expect Israel to tear them down, or hand them over as in Gaza? He refuses to admit Israel is a Jewish state, even though that was part of ISRAELS very creation, and a Palestinian state. (by the same UNGA). What a pervert. A real dope with perseverence. According to Israeli leaders..the Pales are not budging one inch on their demands.creating gridlock galore. The real questiojn is: what about the day after? Will the Pales demonstrate en masse? Will there be volence? Re: apt...try a section 8 remedy: give credits to qualifying people..all people who truly need them. Should a student deserve funding (not working or in a yeshiva?), Living at home is not all that bad. To Israel: develop that oil/gas field offshore. There lies your future, NOT apts in Har Homa. I hear the US may do away with loan guarantees....to Israel, over the 67 line dispute. What? That will raise interest on loans. We Jews can circumvent that by going into our 400b of foundation money (USA). Lets emulate the Arab. Egypt is getting 20b from their cousins....to cut US loose., whilte the Brotherhood still claims non involvement. And Ill sell you the Washington Bridge for 24 dollars. btw, our govt is renting thouands of homes foreclosed..at cheap prices. On the other hand, do we need more unemployed people here?

İ agree that some people in israel have parents and parental houses and can live there but some students are Olim and they came to Israel without parents. They need to rent appartments near Universities or live in the dormitories that are not far from universities, and prices for dormitories must not be so expensive!! Students must study and not working in the nights!!!

but as artists go, most of them are the first to decry the State of Israel and discriminate against those holding different opinions like the refusal to perform in Ariel.

these same young people would have no idea what to do and would be the first to implode, or become selfish criminals like those we see in the UK today. There's nothing admirable about that.

Great article! But don't you think that also the Haredim should be responsible for their families and not live like leeches of us Israeli tax payers and don't let me started on the settlers...I'm an immigrant that left the comfortable Netherlands many years ago, I choose to live in Israel and I'm here to stay and no I'm not buying an I phone for my 9 year old girl, people should live the way they can afford, so don't take 4 kids, but take 2 etc.....

it apeares that you speak to yourselfe .. i can not speak like this long paragraph ... in two words //israil is not america it is sure but americans think that america is israil loooooooooooool

The remarkably peaceful demonstrations in Israel are being broadcast all over the world and while they may not have immediate effects on improving the social injustices experienced by Israelis, these news broadcasts are doing wonders for Israel’s violent image. Unlike the bloody uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain, and the UK etc., Israelis have viewers around the world scratching their heads in amazement with just how non-violent Israelis actually are. Kol hakevod!

The protesters are bringing to light issues like they hadn't been brought up before. They are not looking to bring down the government but shift attention and focus to the situations that are making life difficult. If you are going to be talking about Jewish, the protesters are doing all a favor. The government has appointed a special commitee to investigate the problems and find resolutions. This is real and it needs to be managed if it has to be with government intervention because otherwise it's not working out. The rising is here, now it's just time for the shining. For God's sake, get it right. It's for all of our benefits.

very nice article. one of the few sane ones i've read in years. consumer society, and being used to useless stuff, is plaguing almost any society in the world. people don't work to sustain, they work to consume, and consume more useless and unnecessary stuff. i would love to make money by painting useless pictures, but this is not work of for bread and butter, but for people who need an escape. what kind of escape do people need when they don't have food? israelis have become too used to affluence, considering they simply can't afford it. back to the farms, i say. one can do much art there, after tending to the fields. or maybe there isn't enough water.

However, everyone is forgetting: a computer, an i-pod, a T.V., and a stereo are one-time expenses. Day-care is every month, and often from people who spent hard-earned money to better themselves. The economy can only move if people have money to spend and spend it, yes, in coffee houses, on clothes and on appliances. This spending provides jobs for many and keeps the economy moving. However, rent and day care; the government does not need to subsidize but truly can put price limits. Price limits are already exercised in industry and in farming. Maybe also higher taxes should be levied on the very wealthy who can handle those taxes and still be very wealthy. But the obvious is not always the whole picture.

that the first Lebanon war, which was instigated by the Likkud, went on for 18 years, during which countless millions of NIS were spent and hundreds of lives were lost. Never a week went by without a death of a soldier. If ever there was a military catastrophe, THAT was one - all on the Likkud! Not to mention the first intifada. Furthermore, the Labour/Kadima periods were interspersed for 2 years in 1984-1986, 4 years from 1992-1996, 1 year 1999-2000 and 3 years 2006-2009. Not much time to really change the trends and really do something fundamental about the economy. However, the15 years of Likud's regime ( besides the 2 years of Peres) were instrumental in transforming the economy from a social welfare state to an economy with the widest gap in Europe between rich and poor. This was built upon by Netanyahu from 1996-1999 and continued by Sharon and his tycoon friends ( with Netanyahu pulling the strings as FM) from 2000 to 2006. Sorry to burst your bubble, but the shoe fits, wear it. Bear the responsibility and pay the price. How's that for context? Unless you want to try again to shift the focus by engineering another little war...

I believe that it is not necessary to be an expert in economy to understand that fact: 1. Israel has less than 8 millions inhabitants (compare to EU, NAFTA, Mercosul or China)...No common market with neighbors. Alas enemies. Even gas from Egypt was suspended. 2. Small areas to plant and to build, half is a desert, center of the country is overcrowded, not enough water, defense budget is high 3. Most goods are imported some are produced in the locally. If a chain of stores selling retail buy a product from some producer (in Israel or from abroad), they will pay much more than a chain in France in Germany or in the US...Due the difference in quantity. The more you buy the less you pay for each item. That´s the law of the market. 4. The faulft is not from the government or the "tycoons", but the reflection of a singular sintuation that is Israel. 5. With all the drawbacks and difficulties, Israel is a thriving economy. That´s quite amazing, it is hard to understand why, with all those people complaining and crying, Israel you are still a sucess story!

The First Lebanon War was started by Lebanon / Fatah, not by Israel. It was a great military success supported by all Israelis that could have brought peace. Sadly, Syrian intelligence outwitted the amateurs in the Mossad, murdering Bashir Gemayel and performing the Sabra and Shatilla massacre. That is why we lost Lebanon I. I won't bother correcting the rest of your mistakes.