Last update - 00:00 17/12/2007
Ministers okay bill to compensate families of murder victims
By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent
The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs on Sunday approved a new bill that would financially compensate families of murder victims and survivors of failed homicidal attacks.
The proposal includes granting victims and their families with NIS 35,000, legal representation and rehabilitation. It would also allow relatives of those murdered to miss work for a month following the funeral, without running the risk of losing their jobs.
According to the draft, a special committee will be appointed to prepare the compensation package. The draft calls for legislation of the bill to be passed in coordination with the justice and finance ministries.
MK Nadia Hilou (Labor), who initiated the bill, said the proposal was meant to ensure that "victims of violent crimes be awarded their full rights," in order to "help them deal with the trauma."
Compensation will not be given in cases where a family member, or the victim himself, is suspected of criminal involvement in the incident.
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