KEY-FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL

 

KEY-FACTS ABOUT ISRAEL

By Didier Bertin - 12 July 2011

 

I-HISTORY AND INITIAL ISRAELI SPIRIT

 

From 10 December 1952 to 31 July 2000, Israel has had 9 Prime ministers Government all members of Parties of the SI – “Socialist International” federating the Socialist Parties of the world. We remind that socialism is a movement of the left because it seems that the concepts of Rights and Left and no more understood in Israel.It is hard to believe but today in Israel and for a vast par of the population, Right means Security against terror without taking care of the resulting social policy and left means Rights of palestinians. This distorts the votes for Knesset elections at the expenses of the welfare of the population.

Voting is based on fear and fear distorts democracy. Fear is a main argument replacing welfare issues in the public debates.

In theses years the reputation of Israel in the world for social justice was excellent and everybody admired the substantial tax effort of all citizens and the bright result in agriculture of the collective organization of Kibbutzim movement form Economical strategy and Symbolic standpoints.

 

II-RECENT CHANGE

 

This situation changed on 1st August 2000 with Governments from Right, Center to far Right today.

Simultaneously the distribution of income among the population degenerated to become very unequal.

In 2001the Gini index was already much deteriorated with 0.355 but degeneration accelerated to 0.392 in 2011 at the level of underdeveloped countries.

This situation is ggravated by the high level of the population below poverty line of 24% officially but of 30% in reality, see our assessment in the next note.

 

III-SOCIAL INJUSTICE: A NEW ISRAELI SPIRIT

 

As rfkzcted by the Gini index, this social injustice is thus quite similar to the situation in Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan but is worst than in Yemen, Mauritania and even India.

This synthetic figure reflects all the uncomfortable aspects felt in Israel in the field of purchasing power and solidarity.

 

IV- HOW TO COME BACK TO ETHICAL VALUES

How to correct the Gini index and in fact how to correct social injustice:

 

1-Tax reform and end of corruption

  • Strengthening of direct taxation proportionally to revenues of all kind and everywhere with abolition of all systems enabling corporate to avoid tax payment
  • Reduction of indirect tax on all good and suppression of indirect tax on food
  • Strengthening of tax on Real Estate capital gain to stop the speculation
  • Fight against corruption

 

2-Public Services

  • Expansion of public services and subsidies funded by the tax proceeds
  • 100% National health care insurance with a wide basket of medicines –all prescriptions should be repaid
  • Free access to private medicine funded by the national health care
  • Limit of energy and water cost for private households
  • Development of public transport7/7 with subsidized prices encouraging a reduction of private cars utilization and then inducing oil saving and reduction of cars imports.
  • Free access to Education including University up to doctorate
  • Access to unlimited local and abroad telephone and internet for a limited monthly payment –Invoicing telephone and internet on time basis is unjustified technically.
  • Teaching of citizens’ right and duties from primary schools – Compulsory teaching of democratic and political system.
  • This includes the teaching of the respect of National rights of all peoples and / or minorities.
  • Restriction of religions to private sphere

3-Subsidies and fight against poverty

  • Increase of minimum wage in line with a descent life
  • Minimum revenue guaranteed in for all citizens in all situation: Students, unemployed or retired….

 

4-Work Laws

  • Stabilization of employment by generalization of employment contracts with no limits of time
  • Prohibition of unjustified dismissals
  • Work time limit 40 or less
  • Calculation of wages on a 8X5= 40 hours basis or less instead of 45
  • 2 business days or more of paid vacation per month of work
  • Subsidies of  families according to children number and to one-parent families
  • Corporate participation to transport expenses and food expenses on site of workers

 

V-CONCLUSION

 

We have no doubt that the return to Ethics will permit a substantial life improvement of Israeli citizens and will ease the peace process everyone deserving a better life.