From the Press

In the deliberation that took place at the Economic Committee, the Supervisor of Banks said that the governmental committee that he leads for examining the lack of competition between banks recommends adding additional players to the market. In the deliberation it was also revealed that the committee did not document this statement in its protocols.

Center visit: Petach Tikvah

In 2012, YEDID’s Citizen Rights Center in Ashdod recorded the highest number of cases concerning families that are unable to make their mortgage payments, out of all the organization’s centers across the country.

This is likely a temporary measure that the bank will withdraw once things calm down. NGO YEDID says that “such measures are taken for the sake of the bank’s image. We advise people to be careful not to be late on their mortgage payments in the hope that the bank will waive the debt.”

A Knesset report prepared at the request of MK Ruhama Avraham and initiated by YEDID: Household income rose by 11% in the last decade, but GDP rose by 16%. Also, in response to Yair Lapid and Riki Cohen: 20 thousand shekel income belongs to the upper class, not the middle class. This is an abridged version of an article that recently appeared in The Marker.

Finance Minister Lapid presented the planned budget cuts to the Prime Minister. Plans include: raising VAT; raising income taxes for earners of over NIS 14,000 per month; and drastic cuts to child allowances. The primary victims: public sector workers and large families. In response to the publication of the expected cuts to child allowance, NGO YEDID sent an urgent letter to the Minister of Social Affairs, MK Meir Cohen. “We are opposed to cuts in the child allowance and to any other elements of this program,” they wrote. “If there will indeed be cuts, we suggest that it be by way of a loan where the money is returned to children in 10, 12 or 18 years, with interest and linking, as is the case with bonds.”

The amount needed for the renovations is 15 million shekels. YEDID has demanded that the new Ministers of Finance and Housing provide the complete amount.

At a conference organized by YEDID, the CEO of Amidar revealed that the governmental housing company owns 450 apartments across the country that are standing empty, pending renovations that will cost 15 million shekels. Meanwhile, approximately 2,400 families are waiting for public housing units. “The key is in the hands of the Treasury.”

NGO YEDID, which assists people who default on their mortgage payments, reports a 20% surge in requests for assistance in 2012.

A special design for the president´s visit: Ethiopian immigrants studying jewelry design create a golden pendant engraved with the Amharic word for "peace," and hope to give it to American president Barack Obama on his upcoming visit to Israel.

Israel’s Yedid Association for Community Empowerment kicked off the protest over the ad, by blasting it in a letter to Yes CEO Ron Ayalon, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

During this period of economic uncertainty, women seeking work or wanting to increase their salaries are turning to NGO YEDID’s flagship training course, “Let’s Get to Work!” – and they are acquiring the professional tools to make their way.

In order to create real social change we need to think big but start small. We need to give work and also a shoulder, and we need to strive with all our might to achieve human welfare – not just financial. Here are five people who are doing just that.

The organization recommends amendments to real estate laws that will relieve buyers and renters, including the reduction of interest on mortgages and the monitoring of receiver’s fees. Their claim: bureaucracy is responsible for the housing shortage.