Of the poor households in 2004, 24.2% were elderly, 35.5% were unemployed or not participating in the job market, 35.3% counted one breadwinner, and 5% were supported by two or more working adults.
"The economic growth of 2004 was accompanied by aggravation of the social situation in Israel. The economy got on the growth track, but families in the lowest three-tenths stayed behind, and their standard of living continued to deteriorate," the NII said in the report, written by a team headed by Leah Ahdut, head of research and planning at the institute. -Jerusalem Post- Aug. 9, 2005 The most severe poverty report in Israel's history was published on Monday. The figures are even gloomier than the forecasts.
-Excerpts-
In one year, 2004, 110,000 people joined the circle of poverty, marking an increase of 7.5 percent in the total number of poverty-stricken people in the country.
The number of poor children in Israel has topped 700,000, marking a 14 percent increase in 2004 alone...
The average net income of the poor dropped by 9 percent...
