Privatization trends in welfare services and their impact upon Israel as a welfare state

The implementation of a policy of privatization of social services is one of the hallmarks of recent changes in the character of the welfare state and in its practice in many Western countries. One consequence of such policies is that many of the services that governments and local authorities are legally obliged or wish to provide to various sectors of society are in fact delivered by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including voluntary organizations and commercial enterprises. The process of privatization has assumed a variety of forms in these countries and to varying extents in all aspects of the spectrum of social services, including health, income support, education, housing, employment, and personal welfare services.