Seeking justice for survivors. (Archive)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
PM's Office: Dorner report harms poverty-stricken survivors
Government officials meet with representatives of Holocaust organizations, voice concern that implementation of Dorner Committee's recommendations would take funds away from survivors who need them most
Sources from the Prime Minister's Office are claiming that the implementation of the recommendations made by the Dorner Committee in its report would actually cause the poorer Holocaust survivors, currently receiving welfare, to be cut off from any other financial aid.
Appeal for Survivors
After ministerial committee postpones implementation of recommendations on Holocaust survivor allowances to 2009, Movement for Quality Government appeals to High Court of Justice for its immediate execution. 'No justification for government's lag,' says Ret. Justice Dorner
The Dorner Commission of Inquiry into Assistance to Holocaust Survivors published its report one month ago, in which it recommended increasing financial aid received by survivors who immigrated to Israel before the signing of the reparations agreement with Germany, to an amount equal to 75% of the aid received by survivors that immigrated to Israel after the deal was signed.
The Prime Minister's Office stated that in a meeting between its representatives and leaders of COHSI, the conflict of interests between the report and the assistance the government had wanted to give to the survivors was presented.
"While the Dorner Committee was attempting to carry out legal-historical justice, and focused on property rights, the government is acting with the aim of achieving social justice, and focuses on the survivors and the elderly whose financial situation is dire," the statement said, adding that a combination between the two approaches had been agreed upon.
The Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur said during the meeting that "we must consider utilizing the budget for the implementation of the Dorner report in order to better the financial situation of the poorest circle of survivors, who currently number around 7,000." He added that the government would decide on the manner in which the recommendations would be implemented next month.
