The Knesset, Israel’s Parliament today passed the first reading of the Government bill providing allowances for the fourth and additional children of all families in Israel without exceptions.
Mordecai Namir, Minister of Labor, introduced the measure with the statement that social justice and the long-term interests of the nation required action to ease the burden of large families. The bill, passage of which was assured, would give a monthly allowance of six pounds for the fourth child, seven pounds for the fifth child, eight pounds for the sixth child, nine pounds for the seventh child, and ten pounds each for the eighth and subsequent children, up to the age of 14.
All parties favored the measure. Some deputies advocated that the grants commence at 30 pounds for the fourth child and others sought to extend the period of grants to the age of 16. The only criticism expressed was that the payments will go into force on the eve of the national elections. An estimated 53,000 families with a total of 103,000 children aged four and over will benefit under the measure.
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