Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 22, 2008 Tamuz 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:51 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 12:25 22/07/2008 Head of panel on Holocaust survivors: Olmert ignoring pledge to boost benefits By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Dalia Dorner  A month after presenting the committee report examining the state's support of Holocaust survivors, retired Supreme Court justice Dalia Dorner - who headed the committee - attacked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an extremely harsh way for not implementing the recommendations. "The situation at the moment is that the committee's recommendations are not being implemented," Dorner told Haaretz on Monday. "Despite our making all the proper balances to meet budgetary constraints, to my regret I have to state this government once again is being cruel and not doing what is necessary to make corrections for the survivors. Olmert told us in our meeting with him 'yes, yes, yes,' but as of now, nothing," she said. "Olmert should do at least one good deed before he leaves," Dorner said. "He should be remembered for at least one good thing he did in his post." Advertisement The committee's main recommendation was to significantly raise the allowances received by about 43,000 survivors to 75 percent of the amount paid by the German government to other survivors. Holocaust survivors who came to Israel before 1953 were banned by the compensation agreement signed between Israel and Germany from receiving support directly from the German government. Instead, they were supposed to be provided with an allowance from Israel, which is much lower than that paid by the Germans. The committee estimated that each survivor lost between NIS 1.3 million and NIS 2.2 million as a result. However, to keep from broaching budget restraints, the committee decided these survivors should only receive 75 percent of the higher amount, and that these payments would only start from the beginning of 2008 and not retroactively. The committee calculated this would cost the state NIS 262 million a year. Exactly a month ago, Olmert asked his director general, Raanan Dinur, to study the report and start implementation within 21 days. Dorner says as far as she knows, nothing has been done yet. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Brown's ultimatum British PM to Knesset: Iran must suspend nuclear bid or face global isolation. One giant leap VIDEO: Israeli-developed device allows paraplegics to walk again.   1.   Olmert thinks of NOBODY but himself...... 08:46  |  Dagma 22/07/08   2.   Each month survivors pass away 09:13  |  Benjamina 22/07/08   3.   THAT WAS CLEAR TO ME FROM 10:30  |  Robert 22/07/08   4.   IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, OLMERT 14:04  |  Robert 22/07/08   5.   Literally a Bloody Shame 21:43  |  Elisheva 22/07/08

Read & React Israel fears scathing U.S. report on its West Bank policies Responses: 175 Fearing Haredi ire, Knesset choir bans women singers at Brown session Responses: 102 Israeli officials: U.S. intervention in minor Palestinian issues may damage ties Responses: 96 'Olmert vowed to keep Jerusalem whole, but that's not why I helped' Responses: 33 Moshe Arens: Israel's margin of error is disappearing Responses: 25 Rosner's Domain Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 20:07 Bulldozer driver goes on rampage in Jerusalem, apparent copycat of recent deadly attack 20:08 Rampaging bulldozer driver 'missed pedestrian's head by inches' 20:27 Barak lauds civilian, cop who killed bulldozer attacker 'quickly' 21:42 Tel Aviv rally in honor of Gilad Shalit draws hundreds 20:40 Obama aims for breakthrough in Mideast peace talks if elected 20:06 Morris Talansky: I arranged cash payments to Yitzhak Rabin 20:35 'Exodus' passenger makes aliyah 6 decades after being turned away 20:20 Shin Bet chief warned of copycat terrorists 3 hours before Jerusalem attack 16:04 Bradley Burston/ Ten Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid 16:59 Abbas warns: PA forces to be pulled out of West Bank if IDF raids persist 12:23 There's only one Katie Couric - and now she's in Israel 18:58 Soldier filmed shooting bound Palestinian released from detention 18:55 Israel fears scathing U.S. report on its West Bank policies 20:44 Israeli innovation helps chopper pilots see in worst conditions Previous Editions Select Day 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved