Most Holocaust survivors in Israel do not receive special state
benefits, a government official revealed. The Finance Ministry’s Rafi Pinto
told a special government panel on the issue Sunday that around
70 percent of Holocaust survivors in Israel – some 180,000 people – do not
receive stipends specific to their historical travails.
Social Affairs Minister
Isaac Herzog, who chaired the meeting, ordered government team to come up
with ways of addressing the issue within a month. Herzog also
is considering taking over responsibility for Holocaust survivors’ welfare,
which is currently under the Finance Ministry’s aegis.
