6,000 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN ISRAEL TO RECEIVE INCREASED BENEFITS:

Legislation granting Holocaust survivors greater monthly benefits from the government passed a preliminary reading 8 June 2016. There are about 15,000 Holocaust survivors who came to Israel after 1953, who each receive 960 Euros per quarter from Germany. Of those, about 6,000 receive a guaranteed monthly income of NIS 2,200 ($575) from the state. However, the monthly 320 Euros from Germany is subtracted from that sum. The bill proposed by MK Tali Ploskov would have the state no longer subtract the amount of reparations survivors receive from Germany from their monthly guaranteed income from the state, such that about 6,000 survivors will receive an additional NIS 1200 ($313) per month. Holocaust survivors who arrived in Israel before 1953 already receive the full NIS 2200 per month, and many get more in disability benefits. Ploskov has Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's support, so the proposal is likely to pass into law. "I'm happy to have such a significant achievement," she said. "We owe them." Ploskov said the next thing she plans to do to help Holocaust survivors is to pass a law to give them free public transportation. The proposal passed with 44 in favor and none opposed. (J.Post)