Terror orphans get lifelong stipend

New law removes age limitation on stipends to those whose parents were both killed by terror attack

Reuters | Published: 07.25.11, 21:52

The Knesset plenum has passed in its second and third readings a bill that will grant individuals who lost both parents to terrorism a lifelong monthly stipend, equalizing the orphans' status to that of IDF widows and widowers.

As per the law, orphans will also get other benefits that including reduced municipal taxes and various grants. Moreover, individuals whose parents were killed in terror attacks prior to the year 2000 will receive a special grant in the sum of NIS 550,000 ($161,812).

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The bill was proposed by MK Dalia Itzik (Kadima) and MK Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi).

"Forgive us for what we did to you, for not taking care of you on time, forgive us for doing you a terrible injustice," Itzik addressed the orphans. "There is no justification to the existence of the State of Israel if we are not here for you. I hope that we can look you in the eye and tell you that we corrected a little the injustice done to you."

Another bill proposed by Itzik and Orlev was passed three years ago, raising the stipends given to terror orphans. As per the law, the stipend was given to individuals until they turned 37.