Budget and Economy
Israel and the Financial Crisis
Israeli leaders like to congratulate themselves these days on having come out of the world financial crisis only slightly and briefly scratched. GDP growth declined from 4% in 2008 to 0.7% in 2009, but in 2010 it is expected to rise to close to 4%. Unemployment increased from 5.7% in 2007 to 8.0% in 2009, … Continue reading Israel and the Financial Crisis
The Cost of Occupation – The Burden of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 2010 Report
The report analyses the extent of the economic, social, military, political and diplomatic burden of the conflict on Israel. Among the report’s highlights: The prolonged conflict with the Palestinians undermines sustainable economic growth, burdens the budget, limits social development, absorbs most of the energies of the political leadership, calls into question the legitimacy of the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces and isolates Israel internationally. The burden … Continue reading The Cost of Occupation – The Burden of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 2010 Report
Two-Year Budget Not Appropriate for Israel: Letter to Legislators
The day after tomorrow the Cabinet plans to ask the Knesset to approve a bill making the next budget a two-year budget for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. We contend that a two-year budget is not appropriate for Israel. It is even less appropriate at a time like this, when there is still global uncertainty … Continue reading Two-Year Budget Not Appropriate for Israel: Letter to Legislators
Israel: A Social Report – 2008/2009
The Adva Center annual report, Israel: A Social Report – 2008/2008 was published today. Most of its data refers to 2008, the last quarter of which marked a global financial and economic crisis. The report shows that 2008 was characterized by an increase in inequality in salaries, household income, and success rates in matriculation (bagrut) … Continue reading Israel: A Social Report – 2008/2009
Op-ed: A Two-Year Budget is not for Israel
Should Israel institute a two-year national budget, in accordance with the present wishes of its prime minister and minister of finance? Certainly not. Not in the present circumstances. The first reason why not : no country in the world approves a complete national budget, with all the budget lines, for more than one year at … Continue reading Op-ed: A Two-Year Budget is not for Israel