The economic condition of children in Israel is worsening
according to figures in an annual statistical journal
published this week by the Council for Child Welfare and
submitted to President Moshe Katzav.
The report says that of the country's 2,253,000 children,
288,000 grow up in a home without a breadwinner and 68,000
grow up in households in need of Guaranteed Income
supplements.
"The figures indicate that children are poorer, beaten more
and neglected more," said Dr. Yitzhak Kadmon, chairman of the
National Authority for Child Welfare, in response to the
report. "The State of Israel has forgotten its children."
Israel won the dubious honor of first place among developed
nations in the proportion of poor children, with 30.8 percent
of children living under the poverty line compared to 26
percent of Mexican children, 19.7 percent of Turkish children
and 15.4 percent of Polish children.
The statistics also show more than half of non-Jewish
children in Israel (57.5 percent) live in poverty, almost
triple the poverty rate among Jewish children (21.2
percent).
During the last three years there has been an enormous
increase in juvenile delinquency. From 2000 to 2003 there was
a sharp rise of 24.7 percent in the number of underage
criminal files.
At the end of 2003, the number of children living under the
poverty line was up to 30.8 percent compared to 29.6 percent
the previous year. Despite the growth in poverty the number
of families receiving Guaranteed Income decreased during 2003
from 300,000 to 262,000 due to stricter eligibility criteria.
Similarly, despite the rise in unemployment in recent years,
the number of children whose parents are eligible to receive
unemployment benefits dropped from 117,000 in 2000 to
68,000.
In reaction to the findings, President Moshe Katzav said on
Monday, "The State has failed in protecting yaldei
Yisroel and has not fulfilled its obligations."
MK Michael Melchior (Meimad), chairman of the Knesset
Committee for Child Rights, announced he would convene the
committee as soon as possible for a meeting to review the
Council for Child Welfare figures showing a marked decline in
the living conditions of yaldei Yisroel. "It is
unconscionable that in the State of Israel a third of all
children live under the poverty line," said Melchior, adding
that the Labor Party would ensure a change in national policy
takes place by stressing increased funding for social welfare
programs.
