Peres, Netanyahu back Holocaust survivors on allowances

President, opposition leader press government for more generous allowances to Holocaust survivors

Ynet
Published: 08.05.07, 14:28 / Israel News

President Shimon Peres and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu united Sunday in calling on the government on Sunday to resolve a row over allowances to thousands of elderly Holocaust survivors living in Israel.

Holocaust survivors and many politicians censured the government over plans to grant impoverished survivors a meager monthly allowance of NIS 83 (about $19).

Sticking to Plan

'March of living' to take place as planned / Yael Branovsky

Organizers of mass protest scheduled for Sunday afternoon say 'Holocaust survivors have had enough of promises and foot-dragging.' In spite of reports on improvement in government's allowance plan proposal, survivors stick to their plan to march from Knesset to Prime Minister's Office

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"The crisis has to be solved in a respectable manner," said Peres, who turned 84 on Saturday.

"In light of the economic reforms implemented between 2003 and 2005, Israel's economic situation allows it to assist those in need of government help," said Netanyahu, who served as finance minister during those years. "Many elderly Holocaust survivors are entitled to government assistance to live in dignity."

Holocaust survivors will march Sunday afternoon from the Knesset to the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem to demand more generous allowances.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned Sunday that the economic hardship of elderly Holocaust survivors should not be manipulated to score political gains.

"The issue of Holocaust survivors is very sensitive. This is the first government that has ever dealt with the problem," Olmert said.

Olmert will meet representatives of the survivors in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss their demands.

Holocaust survivors and their supporters planned to don the yellow Star of David that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi concentration camps, prompting Olmert to call on them not to make a cynical use of Holocaust imagery.

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