In Israel entrepreneurs demanded compensation for quarantine losses

Increased state support and loosening quarantine restrictions required hundreds of self-employed Israelis and small business owners on the evening of April 30. Protesters gathered in one of Tel Aviv's squares, the Times of Israel reported. The Government was required to help them cope with the effects of the quarantine pandemic, which had deprived many of their income. Protesters demanded to let the unemployed breathe, means of subsistence and equality of rights. The self-employed were not entitled to unemployment benefits, although they were granted a one-off payment of 6,000 shekels. In the future, support was expanded to 70% of regular income. The other day, the Israeli National Insurance Service (Bituah leumi) did not pay benefits to 100,000 unemployed persons. According to some experts, this may indicate that the problems lie in the updated computer network of this service.