• Are you battling with your child over food? • Is your child sneaking food? Economic Upsets Child poverty, unemployment rise in Israel; key economic figure quits. NAOMI SEGAL Jewish Telegraphic Agency Jerusalem T roubling statistics on poverty and unemployment in Israel came to light last week, at the same time that a key fig- ure in building a more stable national economy announced his resignation. According to a government study reported Tuesday, an estimated 417,000 children live below the pover- ty line — a four-fold increase over the course of 20 years. The total was revealed one day after the employment bureau reported that 166,789 people were unemployed in October — a new record. The figures reflect a 3.6 increase in unemployment since June, a month before Prime Minister Ehud Barak took office. Barak's campaign promise to help the disadvantaged recently was called into question by a month-long strike launched by disabled Israelis seeking more public assistance. Barak ultimately acceded to the protesters' demands, but not before he drew criticism for stating he was "not moved" by the strikers' tears. The statistics were released amid the surprise resignation announcement of Jacob Frenkel, governor of the Bank of Israel. The resignation challenges Barak to name a successor whose poli- cies will be in line with the prime minister's pledge to spur economic growth and employment. Barak has offered the post to Elhanan Helpman, an economics pro- fessor at Harvard University and Tel Aviv University. It was not immediate- ly clear if Helpman would agree to succeed Frenkel, whose resignation takes effect at the start of the year. There are reports that Helpman is inclined to reject the post. The latest statistics on child poverty spurred children's rights activists to demand special government action, including the creation of a Ministry for Children's Affairs. "All of these years, we hear the sta- tistics," child welfare advocate Esther Luvohinsky told Israel Radio. "But no solutions are offered for the prob- lems. She lashed out at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which she described as "weak, and traditionally has been so." She added, "The minis- ters, with a few exceptions, have been concerned primarily with the needs of their own interest groups. They don't get into the problems in depth." Labor Minister Eli Yishai denied that he is too involved with the politi- cal wrangles of his Shas Party to func- tion effectively in his post. "I would like to remind you that in the previous Knesset, I was the one who brought the issue of children at risk to the Knesset agenda," he told Israel Radio. "We blocked cuts in chil- dren's allowances, elderly support — a long list of items — only because of our political power." 11 • Is your child gaining too much weight? • Do weight problems run in your family? Center for Childhood Weight Management ing in determining which lands will be handed over. The latest snag comes as Israeli and Palestinian officials continued the final-status negotiations. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have set a mid-February deadline for reaching a framework agreement for a final peace agreement. They hope to conclude the final agreement by next September. Negotiators of the two sides this week set an agenda for the final-status discussions, dividing the issues into the categories of Jerusalem, settlements, Palestinian refugees and final borders. fl (248) 661-6625 Good News , FOR EMPLOYERS W ITH 401(K) PLANS Do You Feel Overcome With Fees? Front End ■ ) c ) )) Back End Fund Expense Charge Theta is a Solution! Top rated companies in the 401(K) business will pay Back-end or exit fees and reduce fund expenses to earn your business. Find out how to rid yourself of costs you don't really have to pay. Sagemark ConsultincjTM substantial Arab population. At issue is whether the Palestinian Authority has any say in which lands are turned over by Israel. Israeli officials are maintaining that, under the terms of already signed accords, they alone make that decision. "We have an agreement, and it would be better not to get smart or play games for it is the decision of the government that counts," Foreign Minister David Levy said Tuesday. Levy added that the pullback might still be carried out this week. Palestinian officials are meanwhile claiming that no clause in the latest agreement bars them from participat- For more informati©n about classes and locations, call: A member of Lincoln Financial Group Stuart L. Sells, ChFC, CLU Registered Representative 26555 Evergreen, Southfield 248-948-5100 • toll free 888-273-8383 fax: 248-948-5155 slselis@Inc.com FORMERLY TROY FORD IS NOW ELDER FORD • Same Owners*, • Same Great Deals! • Same Personal Service! NOTHING HAS CHANGED BUT THE NAME ELDER_ FORD (Formerly Troy Ford) MIKE SCHLUSSEL 777 John R. Troy (248) 585-4000 1 Direct Line: 248) 597-5133I 11/19 1999 25