According to a survey published yesterday by Ben-Gurion University’s Israeli Center for Third Sector Research, 4,000 local charities and nonprofit organizations are in danger of closing in the next several months due to the growing global economic crisis.

The Center estimates a third of Israel’s approximately 30,000 registered amutot (non-profits) have already been forced to significantly reduce or cancel programs; staff has been reduced at 15% and an additional 20% expect to do so in the near term.

In response to the survey release Dr. Yaron Sokolov, director of the Israel Civic Leadership Association, said “We have been hit by three factors: the weak value of the dollar, the global economic crisis and reduced assistance from government.”