Study: 60% of Israel's poor are ultra-Orthodox and Arabs

from Haaretz

By Moti Bassok , Haaretz Correspondent

Some 60 percent of Israelis living below the poverty line come from the ultra-Orthodox or Israeli-Arab sectors, according to a report to be released by the Bank of Israel on Wednesday.

These sectors have seen a steady rate of worsening poverty, despite recent improvements in the Israeli economy, the report says.

The report also examines the effects of reductions in National Insurance Institute stipends in recent years, as well as the subsequent entry of higher numbers of ultra-Orthodox into the workplace. According to the report, the rising emploment rates has in fact led some within the community to benefit from growth in the Israeli economy.

As opposed to the ultra-Orthodox community, the Israeli Arab sector has not experienced any significant economic improvement over the past decade. This, despite the fact that cuts to welfare stipends have resulted in a higher percentage of Israeli Arab women entering the workforce, according to the report.

The report also surmises that the likelihood of an Israeli Arab finding employment has dropped over the last decade.