The more you call for people to hit the streets, the more the calls will turn into calls for price controls. Then nobody will have any cottage cheese in the morning, let alone for 8 NIS a tub. Consumer boycotts are effective if enough people join them. The prices of products are only as high as what people will pay for them. If the public can be encouraged to reduce its demand for cottage cheese, the price will fall. In the meantime, go find something else to eat for breakfast. There are alternatives.

Ever think it's because we feel we can change this? That we have a chance at making them lower the prices on this? It's a start ok. And after this once we see we can shape change. We will go to streets over housing. The few want to make their riches off the backs of all the rest of us in Israel we are starting to get it. We can not afford a loan for a Apartment much less the down payments required we all know this. Cottage cheese is just the beginning watch what follows. WE ARE FED UP WITH THIS CRAP> The Government has a responsibility to us. This is what we pay for. We are sick of the Tshuva, Strauss, Osem, Shufersal, Tnuva And their likes paying us little then demanding the money back after we are paid and then some. We are ALL FED UP

And what exactly will such protests protest for? What will such popular protests plan to achieve, and how? Hell, any halfwit can go outside and demand change, because he's unhappy with his own financial situation... But do you know what someone who's unhappy with his financial situation should actually do? Stop whining and devise a way to make more money, that's the only way it work.

You keep saying "we." Why? As nearly as I can tell, you speak exclusively for yourself and perhaps a handful of self-indulgent, self-pitying fools who think the world (or the State of Israel) might actually owe them something. In the 1920s and 1930s, Jewish professors, doctors, lawyers and businessmen -- and others -- who were fortunate to escape rampant anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere actually managed to do manual labor to build a state. The State of Israel owes you NOTHING. You, on the other hand, owe the State of Israel a great deal. Can you crawl out of your selfish whining long enough to display a little love and support of the state that is the only real defense the Jewish people have? While you're at it, please stop that self-pitying jeremiad. It's really rather annoying. Go out and contribute something to society. It isn't all about you.

Competition is the way to go.

It's not necessary to exagerate to make the point. I'm originally from a Third World Arab country & I can tell you, Israel is no where near Third World standards. Having said that, the author makes a valid point - there is no doubt that the Israeli consumer over-pays for everything, between 25-30%, which is quite considerable. This is because our economy suffers from over-concentration, it's an oligarchy of a few families characterized by semi-monopolies. This is rooted in it's socialist/statist system. Oligarchic businesses+powerful unions+unaccountable gov't. bureaucracies+a leftist belief in big gov't. = inflated costs+low productivity+low salaries. But, whenever free market reforms are brought up, a left-wing media (controled by the same oligarchs) begins a frenzied attack with the usual leftist slogans & jargon.

Terry, I don't disagree with you very often, but I do take issue with one thing you imply. Well over fifty percent of Israel GNP goes to defense. We don't have a choice. Given the natural bent of the Jewish people, I am sure that there is nothing more we would like than to provide people with all the comforts they could possibly want. We do not have the luxury of that choice. We are charged with keeping ourselves alive. No one else can be trusted. It gets expensive.

this had potential to be an interesting and well thought out article with depth. it lacked all three. the entire world is fed up with being treated like crap by their bosses for not enough money and skyrocketing food prices, hardly making these things newsworthy. and does that make israel 3rd world? i hardly think so. Israel does have a significant socioeconomic gap which angers a lot of israelis, and i was happy to see someone finally taking the time to write an article about it but this was not fulfilling. also, some things that Israel and the rest of the western world do not do are hang it's gay citizens and murder protesting citizens by the dozens so i wouldn't necessarily go as far as to compare our problems with the arab world.

''Well over fifty percent of Israel GNP goes to defense'' --------------------------------- LOL. Well over 5% but less than 10%would closer to the thruth. Since anyone can check your ''facts'' on a hundred different websites thanks to Google why do you keep writing ridiculous unthruths?

Excellent article,realistic,show the sad situation in our country.But it does not blame enough the government. The rulers of this country do not care how much we pay the gas,cheeses,cars,etc.If they really cared,they would allow free import of basic food products that cost one third of what we pay here. Wake-up people. Where is Igud Hatzarchan?Maybe they also have big fat indexed salaries and they do not care.

This is definition of a 3rd world country. high infant mortality (Israel is rated better than UK. US and Canada etc; low economic development (4th largest arms exporter and #2 hi-tech; high levels of poverty (artifically high because of Harideem and Arabs), low utilization of natural resources (leading country for use of solar); and heavy dependence on industrialized nations.(not true). So the article is just a rant, and one has to wonder if Ivy Lerer could name a 2nd world country.

The majority of Americans are deeply concerned about "food, freedom and housing"They lost their houses and jobs. 905 of the wealth is with 5% of the people. Israel is ltied with America in the difference between rich and poor. The protests in Egypt were sparked because of poverty> I agree that our politicians are to blame, but we must also ask who do they serve? It is a common Joke in Israel that a few families have all the money. Let's guide the protests to their front door.

Never mind the producers, the bigger thieves are the likes of Supersol and Mega whose mark-ups are hudge., I believe one of the largest in the Wetern world. On top of which factoriy cost prices have to take in to account large discounts which are forced on them if they want to deal with these surpermarkets. The other point I would like to make is the way they advertise "specials" where more often than not they raise their prices and then discount them! I believe our food retailers need to be boycotted as well.

Nicola patatoes, prime quality, cost in Europe about 15 Shekel. 1st class quality, not the low quality sold in Israel. Prices of Teva medicaments in Europe are much lower then in Israel. Insurance costs 20-50% less. A few very rich families are skimming of wealth which is kept in Europe or in the USA. Very few families own 70% of Israel. Our soldiers are fighting for the rich families!

good arricle indeed to the point b u t this situation is now everywhere we have fo change outlook on our living style and get roote in our own Being kol tov baerlibrumm

I don't know what Israel you've been living in, but the economy is booming and everyone I know is employed, getting raises, house-hunting and doing wonderfully.

With the cost of water and land would anyone in Israel engage in agriculture if there were the unrestricted importation of food items? We need to strike a balance that preserves our agriculture even though it isn't the most efficient thing to do. Unfortunately we are saddled with an oligarchy that spouts socialist rhetoric while robbing us blind.

The Israel of the 30s or 40s does not exist any more. Then, people were equal. Now you just have to see the hughe black "Jeepim" owned mostly by Army people, the big fat villas that are being built even in the South now, by some people who happen to be more important then others (army, industry), while academics, teachers and simpler people get close to nothing and can hardly afford cottage cheese. In B7 you can daily see people collecting things out of garbage cans- Jews who live here and contribute to the State of Israel. They just don't get any money for it.

Israels trade restrictions on agricultural imports protect its farmers from competition but the price is paid by the rest of the population in the form of higher food prices.

of course you are absolutely correct, we do indeed spend more than 50% of gnp on defence. but readers have to understand that the cost of food, oil, gas and other raw materials are going up and up. it affects the whole world. israel is doing pretty well actually.

market, with 5 food manifactures, holding 45% of the entire food market what do you expect? The concentration in Israeli economy is totally out of balance/control. A small number of people/groups (usually family members) control almost entire economy. Through bank ownership they built giant financial, industrial, media conglomerates, holding cartels and monopolies, what poses a great danger to entire Israeli economy and democracy. These days a special government "committee of concentration" puts it's recommendations to separate financial and non financial holdings, we are watching!

if you do not like the price of cheese, consider this: the absurd taxes we pay goes to fund the lazy and do nothing. The government takes away from you through absurd taxation to give it to those "single moms" the "peace loving Arabs" the "learned religious" the "poor poor" the "deserving because the held their hand out" and "justified complainers." You earned $100? take away 50% income tax to pay for the above, another 15% value added tax, another 5% property tax and remember how you complained that: the teachers should get paid more the social workers should get paid more the doctors should get paid more the airport workers should get better retirement... and remember that it is YOU who has to pay for it. 70% tax according to the "social democrats" and "social parties" is not enough taxation. its not cottage, its entitlement stupid.

its about entitlement programs and "social justice" look it up. It does not mean what you imagine it to mean.

I just came back from a visit to Israel. I was impressed and pleased to see the abundance of foods and everything else in Israel. The variety and quality of produce and spices I saw in the supermarket chain Hatsi Hinam was absolutely amazing and impressive, and Israelis have nothing to envy from other western countries. And what also impressed me a lot is that the average Israeli has enough money to enjoy life! The restaurants along the sea shore in Tel Aviv, Rishon, or Bat Yam were full of people even on week nights! I guess all these people can afford the cottage cheese Ivy Lerer can not afford! I think the writer is living on a different planet or has an ugly leftist agenda. Israel is doing not just fine but great thank you!

sowhats new , prices are going up all over the world what makes you a special case , i was in the supermarket yesterday and tea bags had gone from 1.60 to 2 pounds plus every think else , we have just been told gas is going up again by 20 percent , petrol is now manic price . etc etc and no pay rise , people terrified of loosing there jobs the goverment is now breaking up our wefare system poverty will be endemic the old will die of cold in the winter,read david icke he has forcast this yrears ago , and good day to you

Come to Rip Off Britain we pay far more for every product you can think of than most countries in the world, similar to Israel.In Europe we pay the most for gas,electricity,food cars electronic product the list just goes on.Food inflation has been particularly bad with increases of food prices on a daily basis.Petrol prices are just incredibly high .

Israel is most definitely 3rd world with stone age mentality, an artificially inflated market and business owners whose only goal in life is to rip us off.

The high consumer goods prices in Israel have nothing to do with the defense budget. The VAT in Israel is much lower than in Europe, yet most consumer goods, food, electronics etc. cost much higher. The difference goes to the pockets of the monopolies and cartels who control all areas of our economy.

Well over 50%. I stand by that. Five percent? Are you nuts, or just stupid? Oh, don't bother answering. You don't have to. We know.