I am responsible for myself and sadly the government system (set up by socialists like Chaim Wizman, Ben Gurion, and the rest of Mapai and the marxist Mapam) has made it more difficult for me to do things for myself. And so if you want to fix the hardships which saddened Moshe, then lets look at what the politicians promise people and compare it to what they delivered. In my opinion Israel needs drastic deregulation. It needs to let businessmen do business in a much friendlier environment. And most importantly to stop making people think that they need not look after themselves because Shelly or Zahava will use (other people's) money to take care of them (as opposed to Shelly and Zahava.) But Moshe is responsible for Moshe, and that includes the stupid, childish act of setting himself on fire.

Why blame Bibi, when the other leaders did nothing to make the situation any better? If anything, Bibi's gov't has done more for social rights than the left prime ministers you don't blame. Seems that some of you are trying to make this political, which it isn't (at least not based on party.) It is much deeper than that. If tomorrow there will be a left wing gov't, the problem will remain the same, so stop with the lefty crap! This is not a recent problem, and you should be aware that under Barak the situation was WORSE (for rent, which was based on the dollar rate) This trying to blame the right is a joke and pathetic, since the problem will never be solved with this type of thinking!

All the money goes to pay for the settlements and yashivot.

drastic action - it is beyond my comprehension to set oneself on fire over money matters. He has family to whom he could have turned, I am sure. I have lived my life according to the adage : "God helps those who help themselves" ! I have had my ups and downs and thankfully never had to depend on the government to support me.

The deregulation you suggest is exactly the opposite of what we need in Israel and it's very far from the issues mentioned in this article. Many Israeli businessmen already operate like crooks, and you're suggesting that the government intervene even less than they already do!? The issue in this case is that most Israelis are paying incredibly high taxes, but we are not receiving the benefits that those taxes go to pay for. I have no problem with paying higher taxes if that money is going to good use and may provide a benefit to me in the future. However, feeding an ever-widening bureaucracy and financing unfit politiicians does not cut the bill for me. Unfortunately, for me and the rest of Israel, this seems to be what is happening here. And for those of you neo-republicans reading this in the US, please don't confuse the situation here with the socialism you fear there, our priorities are different here.

The media has its own agenda by trying to bring down the government and Moshe silman is wrongly portrayed as someone who will bring chance as a martyr , like it happend in Tunesia. This social protest fad has nothing to do with us, nor with improving our lifestyles. It is run by professional Anarchists , like Daphna Leef who recieve nice salaries, from ngo's, who want to destroy us from within. Many of us are fed up with the Socialist Zionist experiment, which is in its last days. Mr Silman's action is a violent one, that has no place among us.

I agree that bureaucracy is impossible in Israel and sometimes ( most times..) the clerks are incompetent... However above all I blame US, the people... We have become selfish...Some are doing very well others much less...but where were Sliman's family and friends when he got into trouble....If God forbid something happened to a member of my family I think I would open my door and my heart,,,The government is not always responsible for everything...

I thought it went to HaBima and the other self-hating Zionists in Tel-Aviv.

I guess Haim would be as pleased as could be if money was cut off from Hareidim so that they would be the ones setting themselves on fire. There are a lot of holes in the story, but obviously Mr. Silman made a choice that he would rely on the government and not on his own insurance and the government didn't come through. I'm sure he thought it the best at the time and no one can know the future. It doesn't make Netanyahu guilty though and certainly gives no legitimacy to petty bigots and haters.

...unlike many Israelis this days. Therefore Israel is responsible for Moshe. Alternatively Moshe should have become Haredi, doing nothing for the country and get welfare money or join the hundreds of thousands of Israelis (including myself) who are taking care of themselves - in countries with lower taxes and no miluim. Next time Israeli Generals, Politicians and Multimillionaires whinge about people leaving Israel remind them about Moshe ...

People in settlements are paying taxes,maxing industries,giving work(including to Palestinians). Youre retoric is as stupid as the Paletinian retoric that Israel stole their homes in 1947-48. As for the Yeshivot. Yes they are a burden but not as big as you want it to appear. The Social problems will not be fixed if Government stops subsidizing Yesivot. On the Other hand why dont you talk about the Arab-Israeli problem that is bigger burden.

You want to end up like Europe?

Too much power is concentrated in the hands of bureaucrats and they do not bear personal responsibility for their decisions.

No one has a right to leave in my expence

They created an air of urgency which pushed this poor troubled man over the edge, if they had used the ballot box rather than say how desperate these people are because they cannot afford an apartment on Diezengoff, then he would never have done such a public act. Moshe was responsible for himself, he alone led himself down the road of financial ruin, whether by poor career choices or inadequate business acumen. He like so many Israelis feel that they have it coming to them, I for one am not willing to pay more taxes to bail out failed businessmen, I have enough trouble bailing out the bankers. (and it in NOT Bibi's fault)

Israel should not be a well-fare state! It reduces personal accountability and weakens national and peronal ambition. I am OK with programs to help people in need, ofcourse, but it must be measured and cannot make people who don't have to or need to, rely on government.

You said: "But Moshe is responsible for Moshe" -- But there are people who don't smoke, don't drink (too much) and don't eat too much and sleep enough and do moderate sports and nevertheless they get a stroke or another grave disease (of civilization). And there are other people who smoke or eat way too much junk food but enjoy a long life with good health. And this is nothing new under the sun, an ancient writer like Kohelet would say. Stop this personal blame game!

A Russian woman set herself on fire (and I don't condone this, it's against Judaism) to protest the expulsion from Gush Katif, she died, but no heart rending articles, or tv stories and interviews with the family. The media buried this one as not to raise sympathy for the plight of the people's destroyed lives.

but for the haredim it'S a welfare state getting money for nothing with out working and serving.

May I take your post to mean that you prefer your tax money to go to the support of the Neturei Karta and Satmer, who contribute absolutely NOT A DAMNED THING to the State of Israel, and do not even recognize the legitimacy of the State? Yet they seem to rely on the State of Israel, to which they do not pay taxes, do not support and do not even recognize the legitimacy thereof. Frankly, I would much rather my tax dollars go to the support of Moshe Silman. You are one strange and deluded piece of -- well -- you fill in the rest of the sentence.

Social welfare is intended to support people like Moshe who for no fault of their own are facing destitution. It is intended to support responsible people who do their best to support themelves but who need some help. The burden of supporting people who are so irresponsible that they have children they cannot afford, wo dedicate their lives to religious obscurantism, is so great that it means that money is not available to support cases of real need. The only solution is to declare that for children born after April 2013 only three children per family will receive child support. It will be necessary to state that people who avoid the draft at 18 and eventually do national service will only receive the samepay as conscripts in non-combat roles, That way we can avoid the obscenity whereby there is not money available for cases like this - or where draft dodgers do national service at te age of 24 and get paid more per hour for this than a combat officer who is missing his university studies to do miluim gets paid.

#14 all Jews if it is what you mean

# 18 I wish you the best never to get some help in Time of real Need! Easy to say for You!

As all goverments in thé world this government is out of touch with this citizens. Bibi prefers to squabble with Mofaz and preoccupied by his reelection! Instead of decreasing Israel's he should make us strongers stopping evictions, taking take of the migrants issue, Idf issue and of course social issues! I wish this desperate act could be an eye opener but it is I know wishful thinking