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Israel's richest families control 34 percent of top income
Ynet
Published: 19.07.07, 16:56
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30 Talkbacks for this article
1. While 20% of the country is in poverty
Aharon   (07.19.07)
This is why capitalism without controls is a bad idea.
2. #1 - Not Capitalism, It's Oligarchy.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (07.19.07)
If we really had capitalism instead of this half-baked socialism combined with semi-monopolies, our economy would be much healthier. We need more competition in key sectors, like banking for example. Lower duties on imports are a hidden tax & keep industry inefficient. Too many gov't regulations make start-ups harder. But the best way to decrease the income gap is better education - We should be as successful as Hong Kong, Singapore, or Taiwan.
3. More power to them! Their ancestors came to Israel with zero
Harry ,   USA   (07.19.07)
They deserve everything they have!
4. THE LEFT WING JEWS CONTROL ISREAL'S MEDIA,BANKS,COURTS.
MIKE ,   USA   (07.19.07)
THIS IS WHY THE RIGHT WING GROUPS ALWAYS ARE PUT IN PRISON WITH OUT TRIAL.AND THAT'S HOW THE LEFT WING FORCE THERE IDEAS ON THE POOR RIGHT WING JEWS.WHO JUST WANT TO SAVE THERE LAND.
5. 1# control
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (07.19.07)
yes, MKs make sure 4,000 nis a month / 20 nis an hour is an acceptable lowest salary Why don't call it by it name "legalized slavery" instead of low income?
6. think tanks have no solution to this
redmiike ,   tel aviv and london   (07.19.07)
for several years now it has been known that capitalism is failing and that all the money in capitalist societies is filtering up into less and less hands. Bill Gates is now number two and not number one. No answer to the problem is in sight. An answer to the problem would make an interesting article and perhaps this article is of interest to people that didn't know about the 'problem'. Communism failed and the end of capitalism in in sight so what will be next? At present no one has any idea ..
7. israel rich families
A V ,   London. UK   (07.19.07)
WHERE IS GREAT FORTUNE IS GREAT CRIME BALZAC
8. rich to no.3
a v ,   london uk   (07.19.07)
their ancestors came to israel with nothing but they were in control of the economy and they help them self as the oligarch did in russia the same tactics they stole the state money thats all
9. The blessings of Hashem makes one rich and adds
no sorrow ,   with it!!!!   (07.19.07)
10. re:#5 - capitalism does work.
david ,   new haven ct   (07.19.07)
in order to succede, you must also be able to fail. in capitalism you are responsible for your own success or failure. in the end, if people are able to taste the benefit of success they try harder and everyone benefits. the problem is that israel is NOT a free market system. it is run by an oligarchy.
11. Just like the US!
Karen R ,   USA   (07.19.07)
12. 10 families control 34% of all businesses in Israel
Miri ,   Israel   (07.19.07)
While the rest of us live lives of quiet desperation. With all these rich families here how come the help had to come from overseas during the last war to provide bomb shelters for the North? Why aren't these rich families doing more to help the citizens of this country in their time of need?
13. Problem is probably worse...
Ilan ,   Ariel   (07.19.07)
I have a strong feeling that if you look at the top 200 you would get to over half of the share of the economy. This is a symptom of the state role in the economy. For example would Wertheimer had succeeded without government contracts?
14. #3 Harry, umm ancestors? Don't you mean fathers?
Khalid ,   Gaza   (07.19.07)
15. #9 AMEN!!!!!! end
(07.19.07)
16. Capitalism is not the problem - its corruption
Lemmings Hotline ,   sd usa   (07.19.07)
When justice is perverted and the govt appoints family and friends in high places, the whole system breaks down . Then the rich can buy themselves the good deals and let every one else carry the bag. The end of corruption starts with a good look in the mirror.
17. The left get richer while the poor get poorer
freejay ,   Israel   (07.20.07)
18. Re #4 -Minimum Salary in Israel !
mr ,   Israel   (07.20.07)
The existing law calls for a min. salary of NIS 20 per hour or NIS 4000/per month which is not necessarily honored by businessmen. Many workers are exploited but keep quiet to retain their jobs. I know someone receiving NIS 16 per hour ! As for the very wealthy, I assume they contribute their excesses to worthy causes in Israel (tax deductibles).
19. Who are these 19 families and where do they live?...
Rivkah   (07.20.07)
20. Its the same here mate. Stop complaining
Aussie ,   Australia   (07.20.07)
21. Answer to several questions
Itzik ,   Haifa   (07.20.07)
All these people belong to the Labor party or Kadima (now). Israel is NOT a capitalist society by any means. If an outsider of the Labor party will try to open business they will kill his business. These people started as clerks in the Labor party. That is how they became very rich. All trade Israel was doing with other countries went though their hands. These are not selfmade wealthy people like in US. In Israel you can't even run a radio or TV without gov't approval. These are typical socialist oligahs like the richest man in Mexico (and the world because his is richer than Bill Gates). Neither of those folks invented something new. They got rich via the ruling Labor party which consists of the wealthiest people in Israel.
22. Compare any of these to George Pullman
Olej Gamur ,   Netanya, Israel   (07.20.07)
Israel has become a theocratic oligarchy and has many comparisons to the Robber Baron era in the US more than 100 years ago!
23. 19
JL ,   israel   (07.20.07)
these people are vampires...sucking our blood and lives before spitting us out into the dirt...we can make subhuman wages..be homeless...not afford medical treatment...what do they care?...we fight die and bleed for them..they own us
24. outrageous y didn't Gadymak make the cut into this group?!
teehee lol!   (07.20.07)
25. u mean there are people with more $$$ than Gaydymak?
nah! really? ,   who would thunk it!   (07.20.07)
26. 19 families
eli ,   israel   (07.21.07)
Most of them didn't really earn it. They got their starts by govt giveaways, getting percentages on army deals for buying arms, getting contracts for importing oil by the govt, etc. Their connections to govt. ministers and other functionaries should be rigidly monitored. Oligarchies are anti-democratic.
27. Monetary system
Ben ,   New York   (07.22.07)
The reason there is so much inequality is because Israel, like all other countries today, has a fiat money system which allows it to manufacture money; the central bank prints it up, taxing the poor the most to help the rich. If Israel wants to help the poor, it must back its currency with gold and silver so that people, the poor especially, aren't taxed via inflation to enlarge the Israeli government. Gold and silver are honest money, not Israel paper "shekels".
28. thanks Harry for your ignorant statement
Barry   (07.22.07)
you understand nothing
29. 10# Totally agree
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (07.22.07)
30.  Israel's richest families control 34 percent of top inc
John Hansen ,   racine wi usa   (04.21.10)
This oligopoly is not sustaineable.....no living wages for those who need it and fat lard butts dont know what to do beneficially and systematically with their large assets. It is obvious that the system is becoming un done...are these poobahs going to hang on to their bad ideas until it is too late?
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