JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's government hit back on Sunday at protests against the rising cost of living, saying some reforms being demanded might lead to economic crises like those besetting parts of Europe and the US. The warnings followed marches by some 100,000 demonstrators, the resignation of a top treasury official and questions from leading commentators over PM Netanyahu's ability to ride out a revolt by the middle class. "We see the talk about the debt crisis in Europe. We are even hearing talk of a possible default in the US," Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said. "My supreme duty is to ensure we do not reach this situation in the State of Israel." He rejected calls for the authorities to curb industry leaders who are often accused of artificially inflating the price of consumer goods through cartels tolerated by Netanyahu and his predecessors.