Study shows 80% of families in Gaza live below poverty line

<snip>

"A Palestinian survey shows that more than half of the families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are living in poverty.

The survey was conducted by the Palestinian bureau of statistics. It says 80% of the families in the Gaza Strip and 478% of families in the West Bank are living under the poverty line. That line is defined as a monthly income of $712 for a family of six.

The official figures show slight improvement for the West Bank over the past year. But conditions in Gaza have deteriorated because of a year-long blockade of Gaza imposed by Israel against the territory's Hamas rulers.

A truce is supposed to end the blockade, but Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza led Israel to close the crossings again this week."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-26-Gaza-poverty_N.htm



One thousand new millionaires in Israel

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000354759&fid=942

2008 "World Wealth Report": The increase in the number of Israeli millionaires was double the average global increase.

"Israel had 1,000 new millionaires in 2007, according to the Merrill Lynch and Capgemini 2008 "World Wealth Report", bringing the number to 8,200, 13.6% more than a year earlier. The aggregate wealth of the millionaires was $38.5 billion, 10% more than in 2006.

The World Wealth Report defines a millionaire as a person with at least $1 million in liquid assets, excluding capital invested in assets and after deducting liabilities. The average wealth of the millionaires worldwide is $4 million."