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Photo: Motti Kimchi
Single moms launch campaign
Photo: Motti Kimchi

Single moms 'doomed to life of poverty'

Women's group launches campaign against austerity measures, warns 'tens of thousands of families may collapse financially'

"We will take to the streets, block roads and be present everywhere so the austerity measures will be canceled," a group of single mothers declared Monday.

 

The 800-strong "Power to Influence – Women making change" organization announced the launching of a public campaign against the State Budget, which has been approved by the government.

 

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"For years the State of Israel has encouraged us to stay at home instead of going out to work, thus dooming us to a life of poverty," said group member Ruhama Stern, a 47-year-old mother of two.

 

"We expected Finance Minister Yair Lapid to correct the distortions in the new budget, but instead the situation has become even worse," Stern told a press conference in Tel Aviv. "The people who are hurt most by the budget are single mothers and the weaker echelons. We warn the government of the financial collapse of that tens of thousands of families."

 

The previous single-mothers' campaign was launched a decade ago, when Benjamin Netanyahu and Silvan Shalom served as finance ministers. The campaign culminated with social activist Viki Knafo's march to Jerusalem. "We only ask that (the government) would allow us to make a living and live in dignity," said Nurit Engelstein (49), also a single mother of two.

 


שר האוצר בוועדת הכספים. ציפו לשינוי (צילום: גיל יוחנן)

'Distorted budget.' Minister Lapid on the left (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

 

The campaign is focusing on the decision to reduce child allowances and raise the income tax and VAT, a measure which the mothers claim would cost them hundreds of shekels a month. "The amount that will be deducted is equal to a quarter of my salary. For thousands of single mothers, this measure means that we would have nothing left for the most basic existential expenses," explained Buba Levi-Yonai (36), a mother of four.

 

Ran Melamed, deputy director of Yedid – The Association for Community Empowerment, said 80% of single parents in Israel work. "They are not parasites and are not asking for mercy; they are merely demanding that the State allow them to exist," he said of the single mothers.

 

The women's group was established two years ago with the goal of annulling the alimony law, according to which a single mother who does not receive alimony is entitled to a NIS 2,800 ($758) monthly stipend from the National Insurance Institute (or NIS 3,200 - $866 - if she has two or more children). The criteria for receiving the stipend were tightened as part of economic measures imposed between 2002 and 2003.

 

The group is demanding that the monthly stipends for working single mothers be increased. The women also want a NIS 1,300 ($352) annual stipend for all single mothers who wish to study and have children aged 14 or under.

 

"The State is essentially telling me 'sit at home'. What kind of message would I be sending my kids as an unemployed mom? I don’t want to go out to the streets and burn bras. I don’t get money for protesting," said Engelstein, who earns NIS 7,000 ($1,894) a month.

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 05.27.13, 20:56
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