Report: Significant Decline in Israelis’ Incomes Due to Gaza War
(AWP) - Israel’s casualties due to the war in Gaza are not confined to the military, but extend to the economy, as a local report on food security indicated that the income of a fifth of Israelis had declined significantly since the start of the ongoing war three months ago.
According to a poll carried out by the Latet organisation in November, half of Israel’s population are concerned about financial problems caused by the war.
A psychotherapist in Tel Aviv told AWP that many young people are resorting to alcohol and drugs to distract themselves from the current crisis.
"The economic situation is not the same as before the war,” the psychotherapist, who identified himself as Moli, told AWP.
“First, people ask me if I can give discounts, or if I can help them with money. The second thing is that many young people are addicted to substances such as alcohol and drugs, to be able to forget all the problems that exist now. The mental state has been affected 100 percent. And the economic situation—look, we are in a shopping centre, and there are no people here to shop, and there are not even cars in the parking lot.”
Latet’s poll points out that the percentage of Israelis living in poverty has increased compared to last year.
The Israeli organisation said that around three quarters of a million families in Israel live in a state of food insecurity, half of whom suffer from severe food insecurity.
However, Tel Aviv resident Iris Glishem believes that Israel’s overall financial situation is good.
“The state pays the citizens called from the reserves, and compensates them for lost earnings," she said.
“There are of course the displaced from the north and south, who are not in their homes. I am happy in my home. I live in an area that is neither north nor south, it is in the middle. I assume the displaced also have an interest. I don't really know what their situation is. I assume that the government is also worried about them. Therefore, I do not see a change for the worse in the economic situation,” she added.