There is no point in whining about capitalists profit gouging. that's what they are meant to do . that is the system which the people of this country want . Overwhemingly! you get exactly what you vote for . so stop moaning - or build a genuine anti capitalist party devoid of Leninist deviations in order to replace the rotten system with a better way of living

I'd suggest you visit the site of Daniel Doron & read some of his articles on the Israeli economy. You're usually very well-informed & reading Mr Doron's analyses of the Israeli economy would give you a far more realistic understanding of the structure of our economy. I admire your love for Israel & you want to defend Israel at every opportunity. But, Israel is not perfect & true love means loving ''warts & all.''

The difference between the west and Israel is that the cost of living is about the same as it is in the west (even more when you consider the cost of luxury items like TVs and brand name clothing), yet people here are earning half to one third of the salaries that people in the west earn for the same type of job. You may see people out at bars, clubs, and restaurants, but that's mostly because people here don't mind being in overdraft with their banks. In fact, most people here go into negative at some point in the month. The disproportion that exists in living costs (.i.e. rent, food, clothing, restaurants) versus salaries is an untenable situation that must be resolved. My hope is that this cottage cheese protest is just the beginning.

So what's the solution? I have an idea. Let's stop our welfare support of Gaza (millions and millions of shekels going to people who want to eradicate us) and spend it on Jews. Let's stop pouring additional millions of shekels on the care and feeding of illegal African aliens and spend it on providing college scholarships and mortgage assistance.for Jews. Fact is, I don't know the answer. But if we have to start somewhere; that would be the best place, I think. Israel is a Jewish state. Everyone else can go hang.

I will do that. Thank you so much.

Gas? Where's all that North Sea oil going? Or is the U.K. now -- finally -- reaping the misery it has sown throughout the world for centures? You might want to start with cutting those millions upon millions of sterling subsidies collected by all the "royals."

Who in the world are you? A self-righteous defender of the state? Pro-claimer of nonsense? Do you even know the meaning of the word Democracy? States owes everything to it's people, because it is exists due them. The State of Israel even more, for one simple reason - we are giving much more than others (ex: army service - three years of our life, taxes - one of the biggest rate in the world). The sole purpose of this state is to be people's helper. Stop talking rubbish. As if that would be not enough, check out the payment rates in gov. organizations, hospitals, fireman services, police, MDA. And you are telling me "The state owes me nothing"? Get real. State is the will of people. At least those who contributes to it (and this part arguable).

The size of the stupidity she wrote. This is just non sense... Not well argued and not even true....

The Israel bubble is fighting for cottage cheese.instead of putting pressure on your government to make peace or even freeing gilad shalit. What bunch of self centered bunch

A lot! Be careful what you guys are wishing for. 1. You cannot live in a monopoly food market, Especially where some people do not have to work for various reasons. How many just live off the state? 2. Wage and price controls do NOT work. 3. You have to boycott certain foods. 4. Keep supporting the PAs. See how they love you for it. if it is to expensive, love your politicos who brought you to this state of affairs.

such sleepy people than Israelis ! Except protesting on their facebook pages or here on Ynet, they never pressure their Govt - and reasons to do so, there are tons of it in Israel. Israelis are real ships

and found a friend of my wife LIVING IN Tamra, Dr. Talal Mrisat, who studied dentistry in kharkov ukraine. quisierea if I can help that I respond to my mail: oscar.kine @ yahoo.es, were agradesco in the soul and a lot of strength from chile - south america

Also regarding the price hikes on foods, this is a global phenomenon. Because of high gas prices, food prices are going up as well. Here in Canada we have the same problem. Should we also demonstrate in our streets?. This is not an Israeli problem as the writer suggests.

Are you for real? We have not had peace with certain elements for over 63 years. Some people have lived and died throughout that time span. Do you believe this generation will obsessively focus on peace issues in lieu of every domestic issue? You on crack or something? How self-centered can you be? The rest of the Arab world is hot with revolt, and their main issue is not peace, it is unemployment, high food prices, etc... What kind of a double standard game are you playing? Arabs can cry left and right over their food prices, but once Jews do it, we are self-centered? To make matters worse, when we have our own internal problems, you demand we focus on you. Did we Israeli's demand you morons make peace while you were revolting? NO. Even when we have domestic problems selfish beasts like you demand attention. This is OUR issue and we have a right to focus on it without immature two year old's demanding attention. You people seriously need to mature. The world does not revolve around Israeli-Arab conflicts. Grow up.

Get over yourself and take that entitlement teat out of your mouth. You cant eat cheese...eat rocks or better yet get yourself a cow and milk her. Dumb ass babies.. You're alive, you breath, you can piss in a toilet then you won the friggin lottery...get over yourself.

Lerer's envy for what's happening in nearby Arab lands is misplaced. They may have opposed the existing regime, but what they've legitimized is mob rule. Lerer's crie de cour suggests "the government" should do something about the salary she gets and the prices of goods. Nothing would be more damaging to the country's vibrant economy. Rather, she should examine the underlying causes of her troubles - restrictions on imports, the privileged unions, limited land for residential use and bureaucratic rules hindering construction, a bloated and unprofessional civil service, and a dysfunctional electoral system. As to the defense sector, Sarah B is way off. Israel's GNP is over $220 billion today, and the defense sector is indeed around 10%. It's been on a decline since the 1970s.

Look at what the Americans talk about, gas, food, freedom This is not a 3rd world 1st world divide. It is the current state of the world. Social justice? That means if you have money left over at the end of the month, the government should take it from you and give it to a politician to dole it out to whomever Sheli Yachimovitc likes. Have you seen the price of tomatoes in Communistfornia? How about the price of artichokes in Texas? You are just crying because you have no idea how much work it takes to make cheese. (I do, I teach it.) And so if you don't like the price of gas, the price of cottage, and the over abundance of bureaucracy in Israel then start a Tea Party which is not "just against Obama" but one that demands less government, and a separation between charity and "public service" aka politics. Welcome to Beck's reality. He has been talking about this for two years. (economic metldown and food price soaring.) so remember this when you support doctors demanding more money, and teachers demanding more money, and social workers demanding more money, and rabbis demanding more money, and the politicians demanding more power. enough!

I like you.

This article is about social issues (equality, issues of religion and state, human rights, etc.) and the complacency people tend to exhibit [in many places of the world] as compared to the day to day [such as the price of cottage cheese]. It is a call to rise above all that and break out of our personal 'shell' that most of us have constructed. Cottage cheese and even the comment about a Third World Country is not the main issue.

Do you really know what a third world country looks like? Go to Africa or some Arab countries. You will know. There are gas price hikes even here in US. We sometimes see the prices go up on some food items. People are worried about these hikes, especially gas. So does that mean that US is a third world country? NO. That's ridiculous. Please try to pressure the politicians or whoever is responsible for this instead of calling Israel as a third world country. -Todah

Are you always this stupid, or did you put it on for me special? The State of Israel does not owe you anything. It is enough that it gave you a place where no one will pitch you into a gas chamber. You should be PROUD to do military service and to be prepared to die for the Jewish State. If you're not -- well get the hell out. By the way -- I pay taxes both in the United States and in Israel. Cry me a river.

The cost of food, oil, gas and other raw materials are going up all over the world. We're in a global depression. The credit markets have collapsed; countries are bankrupt (or very nearly there) ... Israel is doing rather well by comparison. I really have a very low tolerance for whiny youth who thinks that the State owes them anything.

Surely you mean that social workers ,rather than being paid more, should be laid more !

Your retort to #37 was so bang on I busted a gut. Geez the sense of entitlement in Israel today knows no bounds. My kids are in Israel today and whenever I hear a whine from them (they must have developed this in Israel for I never heard it from them before), I always answer the same. "Pony up or get the hell out of the corral." Incredible what a heard of moochers can do to others.

Quick to call people stupid, slow to check a fact. World Bank: 6.9% GDP in 2009 CIA Factbook: 7.3% in 2006 Some sources have slightly different numbers. Changing to GNP will have a slight effect too. But 50% is insane nonsense. Perhaps instead of spending all day posting dozens of replies to every article on Ynet, you should learn a bit about the economy of the country you claim to love so much.

''Well over 50%. I stand by that.'' But of course. What else would we expect from Sarah BS? You would stand by a claim that the earth was flat if you had inadvertantly made such a mistake or tried to tell such a silly lie. You are a joke.

Israel has about the same income equality coeifficient ( "GINI ) as the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It has a better GINI than the USA. Like the UK, Aust and NZ it has a decent public health service ( unlike the USA). The GDP per capita is about the same as NZ and the price of milk in NZ ( the world's biggest biggest dairy exporter ) is about the same as Israel.

Thank you. I'm glad I made you smile. "Pony up or get the hell out of the corral." Would you mind terribly if I stole that?

For everyone, regardless of economic status, race or religion. Do you know how much health insurance costs for a family of 5 in America? Health insurance that doesn't cover everything and can be denied if you have a "pre-exiting" condition?