The human suffering caused by the present war is unprecedented in Israel’s war history. Against this background, the 2025 budget proposal promises Israelis numerous “dark years” — years without a social agenda.

Three different approaches to the cost of living in Israel point to a number of directions to be taken. Yet, there is no sign of any governmental body taking any action that might contribute to one or more of the solutions proposed.

Mayors and Displaced Residents of Localities in the North of Israel Discuss Strategies to be Undertaken “the day after” the October 2023 War Ends.

Position paper [shortened version for English readers] on the Effect of the October 2023 War on the Poor Residing in Israel’s Geographic Periphery, presented to the Special Knesset Committee for the Development of the Negev and the Galilee.

A short time ago the OECD published a comparative report describing education in OECD countries in 2021. Looking at the various countries’ government per capita investments in education reveals that at all educational levels, Israel invests less than the average among OECD countries. The largest gaps are to be found in early education (ages 0-3) and non-academic post-secondary education.

The publication deals with a number of issues affecting Israel’s social welfare system, the type of ideology and praxis guiding the social welfare services, and the need for a new vision for the social welfare system in Israel.

Israel’s chances of reaching the higher echelons of OECD social and economic scales will grow dimmer and dimmer year by year, as the hostilities continue and the military budget maintains its first-priority status.

While the Knesset prepares to pass the national budget for 2024, the question of a rising defense budget and dwindling funds for social services are at the top of the agenda.

The 15% budget cut in the 5-year plan is liable to negate the progress made to date and to increase the level of violence in Arab society.This is a decisive moment in Israel’s responsibility for Palestinian society – and for Israel as a whole.

Israel’s national budget for 2024 indicates a “day after” with more warfare, less welfare and less equity.