Deal with Yesh Atid secures millions for Holocaust survivors
Coalition agreement with Lapid's party secures major increase in funds of treatment for survivors. MK Kariv: It's our duty
The coalition agreement between Yesh Atid and Likud-Beiteinu calls to increase the services package for Holocaust survivors by NIS 110 million (about $30M) in 2013 and by an additional NIS 500 million ($135M) in the next four years.
Ynet has learned that in light of the agreement, the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel will announce later this week the cancellation of its decision to cut nursing hours for some 6,000 Holocaust survivors with various disabilities. New Knesset members are advancing legislation that would see the government allocate tens of millions of shekels to the Fund this year.
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In accordance with the recommendations of the Dorner Commission, which examined the assistance to Holocaust survivors, in 2008 the government determined that NIS 200 million ($54M) would be allocated annually toward a "services package" for survivors, beginning in 2009.
The coalition agreement with Yesh Atid states that within 30 days of its inception, the new government will set the budget for the survivors at NIS 310 million ($84M) in 2013; NIS 360 million ($98M) in 2014; NIS 370 million ($100M) in 2015; NIS 370 million in 2016; and an additional NIS 370 in 2017.
"The government's decision has not been updated (since 2008) even though the survivors' needs have grown," said Yesh Atid MK Yifat Kariv, who initiated the amendment to the decision along with MKs Dov Khenin and Eliezer Stern.
"This is a historic and powerful achievement," Kariv told Ynet. "As the third generation to Holocaust survivors, we have an obligation."
Rony Kalinsky, the general manager of the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims said, "We welcome and appreciate the efforts of Yair Lapid and Yesh Atid to make the treatment of Holocaust survivors one of the burning issues the next government will have to deal with."
In March, the Fund said it cut three hours of nursing services for survivors due to a NIS 50 million ($14 million) budget shortfall. The Treasury accused the Fund of mismanaging its finances.
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