The number of Israeli families at the poverty level rose during the years 1977-1980 to the point where it had been 10 years ago, according to the annual report of the National Insurance Institute. The increase was from 2.8 percent in 1977 to 6.6 percent last year, the report said.
The increase was greatest among large families where the percentage of poverty households soared from 4.6 to 11.7 in three years. The larger the family, the greater the level of poverty, the report said, noting that families with six children suffered poverty last year at more than four times the 1977 rate. However, during 1980, and at the beginning of 1981, several measures were taken to alleviate poverty in large families, notably an increase in government allowances for children.
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