The coalition easily defeated two no-confidence motions on the government’s social policies in the Knesset yesterday. The vote was 60-51.
The motions were presented by the Labor Alignment and the Hadash (Communist) party on the basis of surveys showing that poverty has increased in Israel under the Likud-led government. According to the surveys. published by the National Insurance Institute, more than 300,000 Israelis live below the poverty line.
These include 70,000 children and 155,000 elderly persons. The poverty line is defined by a monthly income of 16,000 Shekels for a family of four.
Speaking for the Alignment, MK Rafael Edri said the figures were ample proof of the government’s failure to cope with poverty. Charlie Biton of Hadash claimed that people were actually going hungry in Israel, He said people could be seen scavanging garbage cans for food in the cities.
Benzion Rubin, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, defended the government’s record in the war on poverty. He promised that the government-sponsored Large Families Bill would be submitted to the Knesset no later than the beginning of March and it is expected to be voted into law by April I. Rubin claimed the benefits provided by the bill would improve the situation of large low income families.
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