As the settlers try and jump on the bandwagon, a prophet has spoken

The carpet too is moving under YOU

there is hope after all

The socialistic economy that Amos Oz so waxes nostagicly over I don't believe was sustainable. Can anyone envision generations of stagnant living standards in Israel, with the rest of the West way ahead, without Israel's present high tech industries that came from capitalism?

He talks about capitalism being dog eat dog. I guess he'd prefer man being an obedient serf to his state master. Since when is government so high and mighty in terms of virtue that it should manage major industry?

Socialist run industry reminds me of the Laurel and Hardy short "The Music Box". They need to deliver a piano to a house on a high hill, and struggle to lift it up the 300 steps in the front of the house rather than easily wheel it around the driveway. (The top You Tube segment with Billy Gilbert as the professor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqaO72AtKig&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWm0nXJYLmk&NR=1

I'm not sure Oz is hankering after a socialist economy. I think what he does recognise is that those who have driven Israel's economy from a centralised command one (the socialist model) are badly let down by the system. They are, after all, those who are taxed to the hilt to contribute to the folly of the settlements and the non-productive yeshivot. They are also those who are called on to defend the state should the need arise (many of the high-tech start-ups driving the Israeli economy have been founded by people who served in elite units in the army).
And what do they get in return? Housing that is affordable only for those who inherit a fortune. Food and fuel prices that are at European levels, despite salary levels much lower, and public transport at London prices (very high indeed).
And what do they see? Settlers getting subsidised housing and public transport. And the ultra Orthodox Interior Minister telling the ultra Orthodox Housing Minister that he can go ahead and build 4,700 housing units in an ultra Orthodox ghetto.
What do you expect the middle classes to do? They don't want a centralised socialist economy. But they do want a fair deal.

Someone posted an article on this site about the state owning 90% of the land. If that's true, while politics is inevitable in determining who gets a special deal, it's definitely excessive. They'd be better off privatizing much of it.

If gasoline is expensive, I'll bet it's taxed at European levels.

I could understand subsidies at rabbinical colleges, but not for so called yeshivot where they're life long students.

They are trying to reform land ownership, but they are worried that foreigners or, God forbid, Arabs might buy up large swathes. Also, land is big business in Israel and vested interests are at play here.
Everything is taxed at more than European levels. If only the salaries matched. Therein lies the problem. Also, the defence budget is something of a sacred cow, despite the fact that the military is hugely bloated. There's no need for so many staff officers and in today's style of fighting, what's the point in so many tanks or expensive jets such as the F-35.
Surely it would be better to have a small, highly-mobile force backed with high-tech weaponry such as drones. Israel is always fighting the last war - and in this case, this means 1973.