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Last update - 07:16 18/06/2008 Holocaust survivors from former USSR denied reparations By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: reparations  Some 11,000 Holocaust survivors who moved to Israel from the former Soviet Union are not receiving reparations from Germany because the Claims Conference, an international body that grants compensation to survivors, did not translate the payment request regulations into Russian, MK Michael Nudelman (Kadima) charged at a Knesset Immigration and Absorption Committee meeting Tuesday. Nudelman, the committee chairman, said that many Russian-speaking survivors were disqualified from receiving compensation because they filed their requests before they reached the designated age, but were unaware of the problem because they did not understand the regulations. Reuven Merhav, who heads the Claims Conference's executive committee, acknowledged that it was a mistake not to have translated the regulations, but a conference representative said all the explanatory material has been available in Russian for more than a decade. Merhav also told the Knesset committee that the Claims Conference does not have the funds available to pay reparations to 11,000 additional Holocaust survivors. Advertisement On Monday, State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss was asked at a State Control Committee discussion of the Claims Conference's conduct to investigate the relationship between the Claims Conference and the government. However, MK Zevulun Orlev (National Union-National Religious Party) said that since the Claims Conference is officially registered in the United States, it is not under the state comptroller's supervision. At the meeting, Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan said that a small cadre within the Claims Conference was deciding how to distribute the payments, and the other executive committee members were rubber-stamping their decisions. Eitan said the conference was unwilling to review the number and location of living Holocaust survivors so as to reflect that most of them live in Israel. He added that the group was unwilling to discuss an end to its operations once the survivors die out. However, Eitan said he would not ask the German government to reconsider the role played by the Claims Conference. Three weeks ago, Judge Oded Mudrik ruled that the conference was negligent for failing to inform survivors who had fled to the Soviet Union that they were eligible to receive compensation, and ordered the conference to compensate 1,315 additional survivors. More Jewish World news and features Related articles: Dutch Jews: Germany unjustly not paying Dutch Holocaust survivors Claims Conference won't handle Holocaust survivor payments Bookmark to del.icio.us   Religious pressure Tel Aviv supermarket chain agrees gradual Shabbat closure. Overgenerous diplomacy UN envoy: Israel has given Syria a 'huge gift' for free.   1.   Victimizing the victims 08:18  |  Natallie Durson 18/06/08   2.   Too busy spending money on Zionist agenda 08:54  |  Philip 18/06/08   3.   DON`T WORRY TOVARICH 09:56  |  Robert 18/06/08   4.   Merhav is a liar 10:11  |  Fritz 18/06/08   5.   Nazi victims are luckiest than USSR or China ones 10:22  |  Manolo peaceful man 18/06/08   6.   Serbia dont` pay Bosnia survivors 10:31  |  Manolo peaceful man 18/06/08   7.   So, Russian Jews don`t matter? 11:41  |  petra 18/06/08   8.   #7, Petra 13:00  |  Fritz 18/06/08   9.   My dad was one of them 14:55  |  Ilya 18/06/08   10.   #7 Madre Espana.... 15:28  |  An Israeli 18/06/08   11.   what about the Pensions.... 15:31  |  Israel Israeli 18/06/08

Read & React Israel okays Gaza truce, says will ease blockade Responses: 192 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots Responses: 63 Moshe Arens: Israel has nothing to fear from next U.S. administration Responses: 34 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month Responses: 41 Editorial: Law to ban Arab MKs from visiting enemy states is an insulting PR ploy Responses: 37 Rosner's Domain Will next U.S. Congress top current record number of Jewish lawmakers? Guests: Weak relationship between later marriage and intermarriage To Republicans Iran's a threat, to Democrats not so much (WTR) Poll: Cease fire in Gaza is an achievement for... Obama, McCain aides agree: Israel, U.S. must discuss strike on Iran More Headlines 16:29 Qassams strike Negev as Israel, Hamas agree to Gaza truce 14:38 Israel says it's ready to begin peace talks with Lebanon 16:29 Goldwasser, Regev families to meet top prisoner swap negotiator 14:41 Sarkozy aide: Olmert and Assad could meet in Paris next month 14:59 Syrian FM: We back Gaza truce, hope Israel fulfills commitments 13:34 MKs back referendum on Golan, East Jerusalem withdrawals 14:45 Shas MK: 300,000 Jews still in Ethiopia eligible for immigration 15:50 Knesset rejects Lieberman bill that would tax draft-dodgers 13:16 King of Jordan: 'Serious mistake' to miss chance for Israeli-Palestinian peace by end of 2008 16:25 Livni: Israel's leaders must be bound by state values 12:23 ANALYSIS / Cease-fire deal means Hamas is calling the shots 08:48 Civil Administration officials indicted in West Bank land steal 07:16 Holocaust survivors from former USSR denied reparations Previous Editions Select Day 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun

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