Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., January 05, 2008 Tevet 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 22:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

PM Ehud Olmert (2nd from left) meeting with Holocaust survivor representatives last year. (GPO) Last update - 15:22 05/01/2008 PMO: Holocaust survivors will get stipends within two weeks By Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Tags: Raanan Dinur  Prime Minister's Office Director-General Ra'anan Dinur said on Saturday that the government would begin making monthly payments of roughly NIS 1,000 to Holocaust survivors within the next two weeks, Israel Radio reported. The payments will be made to roughly 8,550 survivors who don't receive assistance from other sources. Welfare Minister Itzhak Herzog and Minister for Pensioners' Affairs Rafi Eitan met Wednesday morning with Dinur in an attempt to reach an agreement on the dispute surrounding allowances for the elderly and added assistance to Holocaust survivors. Finance Ministry officials did not take part in the meeting. Advertisement The Treasury is interested in passing a law that would differentiate between senior citizens according to age, so that the elderly above the age of 80 would receive a higher stipend. Herzog is against the treasury's proposal, which was approved this week by Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, because it sets a precedent against the principal of universality regarding national insurance which assures that everyone receives an equal stipend. The proposed bill also promises that the 85,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who suffered under Nazi occupation but were not in concentration camps or ghettos (the so-called "second circle" of survivors) would also receive a bonus on top of their regular allowance. As for the 8,550 Holocaust survivors that were in ghettos or concentration camps, it was agreed in a meeting Tuesday with Dinur that the government would pay up to NIS 1200 a month, depending on the assistance the survivors already receive. The treasury's offer regarding the allowance of the "second circle" - which totals about NIS 1 billion - would be differential according to age. The amount given would also depend on the income of the elderly and whether or not they own an apartment. The allowance would range from NIS 700 a month for people over the age of 80 who do not have an apartment and NIS 150 for people in their 70s who do own an apartment. According to Herzog, both Dinur and Eitan are also against violating the universality principal of national insurance. In response, an official in the Finance Ministry said "all this is fine and dandy, but if we divide the money evenly, everybody will receive less." Related articles: Study: Holocaust trauma affects grandchildren of survivors Olmert and Holocaust survivors' groups agree on pensions hike PM granted Holocaust survivors' stipend to CIS immigrants Bookmark to del.icio.us   A second visit? Peres invites Bush to visit Israel in May for Independence Day. After Iowa Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani's campaigns?   1.   stipend 17:53  |  nefen 05/01/08   2.   HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. THIS GOVT. 21:56  |  Robert 05/01/08

Today Online Amos Harel: Israel is not the only one exercising restraint Responses: 220 Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit Responses: 172 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to focus on suicide bombings Responses: 344 Editorial: The IDF is an army that has ceased to function as an army Responses: 240 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot, damaging homes and cars Responses: 161 Rosner's Domain Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? New poll: Obama, Huckabee, who's better for Israel? The Judaism of Alicia Silverstone (WTR) Rosner's Guest: How to raise Jewish children The green line is turning red More Headlines 21:46 IDF kills Hamas man in Gaza; Qassam damages Sderot homes 21:35 U.K. seeks new international conference on Mideast peace in London 22:07 Poll: 81 percent of Israelis back increasing IDF targeted killings 21:54 Vilnai: Israel should free Marwan Barghouti in swap for Shalit 19:55 Replica of Anne Frank annex opens inside Liverpool church 19:57 IDF withdraws from Nablus after 3-day operation in W. Bank city 19:50 Peres: Bush visit could mark passage from talk to action in peace process 15:22 PMO: Holocaust survivors will get stipends within two weeks 20:16 After Iowa: Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? 19:05 Poll: Fatah losing support among West Bank, Gaza Palestinians Previous Editions Select Day 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! AMERICANS ONE MONTH LEFT US citizen in Israel beat online Democrats-Abroad Presidential Primary deadline.

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

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved