Bill to lower funds for terrorists passes first hurdle

If bill passes, disability funds, unemployment, work accident payments will be reduced for anyone convicted of acts of terror against the state.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Terrorist 311 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Terrorist 311
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Knesset approved a bill to reduce National Insurance funds granted to terrorists and their families in its preliminary reading on Wednesday.
Israel Beiteinu MKs David Rotem and Robert Ilatov proposed the measure, which would halve the insurance and pension funds given to those convicted of an act of terror against the state, as well as their families. The bill does not reduce funds granted to minors.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation originally opposed the bill, which called for terrorists and their families to receive no funds. The government offered that the bill be changed to a 50 percent reduction, which Rotem and Ilatov accepted.
Should the bill pass, it will reduce disability funds, unemployment, work accident payments and other funds for anyone convicted of harming the state’s sovereignty, causing a war, aiding an enemy in a time of war, serving in an enemy army, giving information to the enemy, espionage, or contact with a foreign agent.
“The war on terror requires us to come up with deterrents,” Rotem said. “It cannot be that a terrorist is injured in his own attack, and he will get the same aid as those he harmed.”
Meretz MK Ilan Gilon spoke out against the bill, calling it “unnecessary and populist.”
“At first, it looks logical and obvious – we don’t want to be suckers,” he said. “Once you start thinking about the details, problems arise. Who is considered a terrorist? Who decides who is a terrorist?” Gilon asked.
The bill passed in its preliminary reading with 39 MKs in favor and 11 opposed, and will be brought to the Knesset Labor, Welfare and Health Committee to be prepared for its first reading.