Olmert: 50,000 children born into poverty yearly

Israel will allocate NIS 600 million over the coming years to implement the recommendations of the Schmidt Committee, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Monday morning at the Israel Business Conference. Olmert said that about a third of the 150,000 children born in Israel every year live below the poverty line and are in danger. In the coming year, 20 centers will be established to offer them aid, Israel Radio reported. The prime minister explained that most of the budget would be allocated to help children who had already suffered damage. The new plan is also meant to prevent exposing poor children to risks.