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Holocaust survivor
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State to invest NIS 100 million in pensions for Holocaust survivors

Starting next year, the state will fund the pensions of 9,000 Holocaust survivors who have received assistance from the r Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims’ Assets in anticipation of its liquidation at the end of the current year; the sum of the pensions is estimated to be around NIS 100 million annually.

The Finance Ministry obligates itself—starting next year—to fund the pensions of 9,000 Holocaust survivors who have so far received it from the Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims’ Assets, the amount of which is estimated to be about NIS 100 million annually.

 

 

In anticipation of the company's liquidation at the end of the current year, the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee temporarily transferred its assets to the Custodian General until the end of the year to ensure that the Finance Ministry cannot back down from its obligation.

 

Photo: Gettyimages
Photo: Gettyimages

 

In recent years, the Company for Location and Restitution of Holocaust Victims’ Assets has financed pensions to Holocaust survivors in bad economic situations, in addition to the assistance they received from the state.

 

These are quarterly grants of NIS 2,750 to approximately 9,000 survivors, an annual sum of NIS 9,000 per person and a total annual cost of NIS 100 million.

 

Last year there were a number of crises, because the company did not generate enough profits to finance the pensions, and so the state was forced to provide funding.

 

The State Comptroller's latest report on the subject of Holocaust survivors criticized the fact that although the company's liquidation is expected by the end of 2017, no agreement has yet been reached regarding the continued payment of the pensions.

 

In recent weeks, the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed a government bill that seeks to arrange for the liquidation of the company and the transfer of its activities to the Custodian General in view of the conclusion that the company has exhausted most of the potential for returning the assets of Holocaust survivors.

 

A group of Knesset members led by opposition coordinator Merav Michaeli (Zionist Union) demanded that the state fund the pensions as a condition to pass the bill.

 

Michaeli even submitted a private bill in this spirit with MKs David Bitan (Likud) and Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism).

 

An explanatory statement to the bill states that "a permanent solution is required that will prevent the harm to the most needy Holocaust survivors who suffer from severe poverty that harms their dignity as humans."

 

(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.23.17, 20:59
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