Inquiry into Holocaust survivor benefits lacks clear mandate - Haaretz

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Sun., January 13, 2008 Shvat 6, 5768

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		MK Zevulun Orlev, chairman of the Knesset's State Control Committee. (Tess Scheflan / Jini)

Last update - 10:17 10/01/2008

Inquiry into Holocaust survivor benefits lacks clear mandate

By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Israel, Zevulun Orlev

Ever since MK Zevulun Orlev (NRP), the chairman of the Knesset's State Control Committee, announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry on the matter of allowances for Holocaust survivors, the preparations have been proceeding swiftly. Orlev reached an agreement with Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch over the quick appointment of a chairman and members for the committee, and has even managed to draft its official mandate.

But the commission's exact task is still unclear. Is it meant to examine the failures of the present government in allocating allowances, or to look at past government's actions on the matter? Or maybe its job is to set future standards for survivors' rights?

According to the first section of the mandate, which defines the areas the committee will investigate, it seems that its task is a bit of all of the above.

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On one hand, it states the committee will investigate and submit recommendations relating to "providing an appropriate response to the special needs of Israeli citizens and residents who are disabled from Nazi persecutions, and Holocaust survivors and refugees."

On the other hand, its recommendations must be made "in the light of the actions of Israeli cabinets in all matters relating to meeting agreements, commitments and decisions." The lack of clarity on the matter may be an obstacle to the committee's work.

The confusing mandate may explain the lack of enthusiasm demonstrated by Holocaust survivors organizations for the establishment of the commission. After conducting an emotional campaign against the government, demanding that it provide funds to take care of the needy and sick, the survivors organizations feel that most of what they achieved was reached in the agreement they signed in November. As far as they are concerned, there is nothing to investigate, only to make sure the agreement is implemented.

"Everything that happened for 60 years, that they did not want to listen to us and did not want to know, and that the government is not responsible for the Holocaust but the Germans are [is known]," said Noah Flug, chairman of the umbrella organization of Holocaust survivors in Israel. "We know all the claims. It is good that the MKs are interested and want to help, but now what is important is the test of implementation - that they pay the allowances. If the committee causes that to happen faster, all the better. If it happens without the committee, that is even better still," said Flug.

Orlev is aware of the of the problem of focusing the committee's work. He said he is interested in providing an immediate solution for survivors needs, and that if he had wanted a historical survey, then the results would be ready only in two years time.

However, according to journalist and researcher Raul Teitelbaum, "The decision to establish the committee is political and populistic. The Knesset should investigate why it never did anything on the matter... It will take it at least a year to investigate, and another 35,000 will die," said Teitelbaum.

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1.	SO WHAT`S NEW HERE?? GIVING THE	09:37	\|	Robert	10/01/08

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