Last update - 00:00 26/04/2007
Gaza evacuees win a further NIS 500 million in compensation
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent
The Ministerial Committee on the Disengagement approved Wednesday a budget increase of over NIS 500 million to provide for Gaza Strip evacuees in areas that were neglected in the original Evacuation-Compensation Law.
For instance, renters were not entitled to compensation for the loss of their residence, nor were unemployed salaried workers compensated for the transition period. The original law also did not clearly address children under the age of three.
The panel instructed a directors-general committee, headed by Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur, to find similar solutions for business owners and farmers by May 16.
The panel's decision followed a long battle by the Gush Katif settlers' committee and a parliamentary lobby headed by MK Uri Ariel and Avigdor Yitzhaki, the chairman of the governing coalition.
The settlers' committee chairman, Lior Calfa, said in response: "We welcome the correction of the injustices, but we are having a hard time understanding why it took the government a year and a half to give us back what we deserve."
"We hope the government of Israel will commit to a clear timetable for the establishment of permanent towns," he added.