About 50% of Israelis had to cut home heating last winter, and 64% testified that they bought less food products recently - according to a survey conducted by the Dror Israel movement, which works to promote social equality and reduce gaps in society.
The survey, conducted this week by the "sample" company, included more than 500 participants who were asked about the current period compared to the one that preceded the wave of price increases.
According to the survey, more than 73% of respondents chose to cut spending on recreation and leisure, and about 40% cut back on spending on non-urgent medical care.
The results of the survey indicate dissatisfaction with the functioning of the government, and a lack of confidence in the measures taken recently.
Nearly 60% of respondents said the package of measures introduced by the government a week ago would not ease the cost of living, compared to 31% who think it would alleviate to a slight degree.
Only 5% of respondents believe that the government program will greatly alleviate the cost of living.
What does the public offer?
Nearly half of respondents (46.9%) said the government should reduce VAT and excise taxes, and 38% supported raising the minimum wage. Only 14% indicated the need to open up the vegetable and fruit market for imports, and about 10% answered that businesses affected in Corona should be compensated.
Dissatisfaction.
Government announcement on the economic plan, Photo: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO
Who is to blame for the situation?
More than half of the respondents (51.1%) consider the government to be responsible for the rise in prices, and only 16.6% think that the reason for the wave of price increases is the lack of competition.
12% blame food producers and retail chains, and 8% said the public is responsible for the situation because they did not protest early against rising prices.
Beyond that, more than 76% of respondents gave the government a negative rating for its treatment of the cost of living, and 40% of them feel that the government's treatment of the issue is "bad".
The biggest difficulty
More than 40% of the respondents who participated in the survey thought that the greatest difficulty is in coping with the rise in food prices, and about 20% are concerned about rising energy prices and the cost of living.
Pesach HaOspeter, coordinator of the Dror Israel movement: "Economic disparities are the most serious threat to the very existence of Israeli society. The concept of 'social justice' was not just a slogan in the history of the Jewish people, and those who do not understand it endanger our very existence."
According to him, "members of the movement meet the population throughout the country, and see the difficult situation and the basic needs that are not being met, due to the complex situation.
"It was important for us to check the facts and figures, and indeed a difficult picture is revealed of large gaps. The Israeli government can and should intervene - and it would do well if it did not close its ears."
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