As the socio-economic divisions between the Israeli working class as a whole and the rule of capitalism become more pronounced, discrimination within the working class (especially between the Jewish and Arab workers) has become acute. Considering income as one of the indicators of socio-economic status, the average gross monthly income among the Arab citizens in Israel during 2008 was 5,419 Israeli new Shekels (US $ 1,465). That is 2,530 Israeli new shekels ($ 685), or nearly 32 percent lower than the Jewish citizens.
Faraan; contrary to what it appears at first glance and generally under the media propaganda, the Israeli society, suffers from high levels of socio-economic discrimination and inequality. The Arabs living in their own lands and under the Israeli domination also suffer from poverty in this regime.
The Israeli Social Security Administration released a report last December stating that 53.3% of the Arab population living in the occupied territories is below the poverty line. According to these statistics, 20% of the Jews living in the occupied Palestinian territories are also living below the poverty line. [1]
Israeli millionaires
According to the Haaretz newspaper, on June 22, 2010, while the global economic crisis led to a 17% increase in the number of millionaires in the world in 2009, the number of Israeli millionaires increased by 43% in that year. This sharp rise ranked Israel third in terms of the number of millionaires per capita (that is, in terms of population), after India and Hong Kong. According to the Haaretz newspaper, Hong Kong had the highest rate of millionaires at 104 percent, compared to 50.9 percent for India.
The United States, Germany, and Japan remained the countries with the highest number of millionaires. During 2009, there were over 10 million millionaires worldwide, with total assets of more than $ 39 trillion. Meanwhile, Israel has 8419 millionaires. In 2009 alone, there were 83 multi-millionaires in Israel, 10 more than in 2008. [2] However, the growth of the poor in Israel is indicative of the money worship trend and the seizure of the rights of the poor in Israel.
Discrimination in Some Palestinian Cities
Jisr az-Zarqa [3] is the last remaining Palestinian city off the coast of Israel. It is one of the poorest and most populous cities under the Israeli rule. Crowded buildings have been erected everywhere on any land that has remained, and there are almost no trees in the city. Jisr az-Zarqa is home to 15,000 Palestinians and has been facing a serious housing crisis for years. Its land has been usurped to make way for the Israeli government infrastructure.
The Arab and Jewish workers’ community in the occupied territories
As the socio-economic divisions between the Israeli working class as a whole and the rule of capitalism become more pronounced, discrimination within the working class (especially between the Jewish and Arab workers) has become acute. Considering income as one of the indicators of socio-economic status, the average gross monthly income among the Arab citizens in Israel during 2008 was 5,419 Israeli new Shekels (US $ 1,465). That is 2,530 Israeli new shekels ($ 685), or nearly 32 percent lower than the Jewish citizens.
Likewise, in 2008, the average gross monthly income among the Arab working men and women was approximately 42% and 28% lower, respectively, than that of the Jewish working men and women in the same year. Thus, it is quite clear that in terms of economic prosperity, the Arab population of Israel is in a more unfavorable position than the Jewish population. [5]
To be continued….
Writer: Sa’id Abu al-Qaadhi
[1]. http://parstoday.com/fa/middle_east-i57964
[2]. http://militaant.com/?p=703
[3]. Jisr al Zarqa
[4]. https://www.radiozamaneh.com/440327
[5]. http://militaant.com/?p=703
