Ariel Sharon Attacks Israeli Workingclass

The World Socialist Website reports that as the Israeli economy declines, the viciously anti-Arab lackey of US oil imperialism, Ariel Sharon, is leading the attack on the Jewish workingclass, because promoting the interests of oil imperialism is by definition anti-labor.

See "Sharon government scapegoats unemployed for Israel’s economic crisis" by David Cohen, July 6, 2002 at
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jul2002/isra-j06.shtml

Pertinent paragraphs:

"The Israeli social-economic cabinet agreed on July 1 to a nationwide pilot scheme for a proposed workfare programme."

"The pilot scheme, modelled on the Wisconsin Plan in the United States, will be run by private contractors and so constitutes an initial step towards the privatisation of the benefits services. It will go into operation between March 1, 2003 and the end of 2004 and will obligate over 14,000 unemployed people to participate or have their benefits withdrawn. Amongst those targeted will be single mothers with children over the age of three who are currently exempt from looking for work until their children reach the age of seven."

"The cabinet meeting was characterised by vitriolic attacks on the unemployed. According to a report in Haaretz, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is said to have, “pounded on the table several times and declared that those unwilling either to work or at least to volunteer for the community should not receive welfare payments. ‘Let them clean the streets—our cities are filthy—or work in hospitals or guard kindergartens,’ he said. ‘Even if the work is unpaid, at least the person will be doing something in exchange for his stipend. From this point on, we should not give to anyone without receiving something in exchange,’ Sharon said.”"

"Claimants are being scapegoated for the parlous state of the Israeli economy. The government’s target for economic growth in 2003 will be only one percent, which represents negative per capita growth, since the population is expected to increase by 2.5 percent next year. The Finance Ministry plans to slash at least NIS8-9 billion from the state budget for next year, in order to meet this target."

"This will be taken out of the backs of the working class. Sharon has promised only a small reduction of about NIS2 billion ($US2.49 billion) in defence spending and an additional across-the-board cut of about 2 percent in ministry funding. The main reduction will be based on cutbacks in benefits provided by the National Insurance Institute."

"The continuing slump of the Israeli economy will add tens of thousands of Israeli workers, youth and immigrants to the unemployment rolls. In Israel there are officially 271,000 unemployed workers, or 10.6 percent of the workforce. But only 54 percent of the potential labour force is actually employed. Only 76 percent work in the key 25-54 age group, compared to a Western average of 82 percent."

"The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and its attendant costs is adding to Israel’s financial woes. The Zionist state spends billions oppressing the Palestinian people, building more settlements, arming the Israeli Defence Forces and mobilising reservists."

"The Palestinian working class is not the only victim of this madness; Jewish workers suffer from a lack of investment in the economy and the denial of funding for health, education and other essential social services. Sharon decided only recently, in the context of its emergency economic programme, to sharply raise taxation on labour."