Knesset approves added benefits for Holocaust survivors in early vote

According to the proposal, Holocaust survivors have the right to food, housing, health and social services as well as other benefits.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Holocaust museum in Ariel (photo credit: REUTERS)
Holocaust museum in Ariel
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Poor Holocaust survivors will receive an additional monthly stipend, if a bill that passed in a preliminary reading on Wednesday becomes law.
The legislation, submitted by Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee chairman Haim Katz (Likud Beytenu), would give increased benefits to survivors who make under NIS 4,800 a month.
According to the proposal, Holocaust survivors have the right to food, housing, health and social services as well as other benefits. It calls for the establishment of a government agency to supervise their distribution.
The agency is to gather information on survivors’ rights and build an information center. It will be run by an advisory committee appointed by the welfare and social services minister.
After the bill was presented to the plenum, Deputy Finance Minister Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid) pointed out that Finance Minister Yair Lapid, his party’s chairman, had brought before the Knesset a plan to aid Holocaust survivors.
“The government supports this [Katz’s] proposal if it is combined with the government bill,” Levy added.
Katz said he was committed to combining the two bills, even if he needed to make concessions to do so.
The bill passed its preliminary reading with 45 in favor and none opposed.