A law increasing state benefits for Holocaust survivors receiving guaranteed monthly income passed a final vote in the Knesset on last week. There are approximately 15,000 Holocaust survivors who arrived in Israel after 1953, and receive 960 Euros per quarter from Germany. Of those, 6,000 receive a guaranteed monthly income of NIS 2,200 from the government, among other benefits, but the sum from Germany is subtracted from it. The new law, proposed by MKs Dov Khenin (Hadash – Joint List) and Tali Ploskov (Kulanu), changes the policy so that the benefit from Germany does not count against the Israeli state income.

Auschwitz concentration camp (Photo: Wikipedia)

As a result, the 6,000 Holocaust survivors falling under the law’s purview will receive an extra NIS 1,200, at a cost to the government of NIS 7.2 million. per month. “This is an important law that is meant to allow Holocaust survivors to live with minimum dignity,” Khenin said. According to Khenin the law fixes one injustice, and he hopes many more will be reversed. The law passed in a third and final reading with 70 MKs in favor and none opposed.

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