Labor, Welfare and Health Committee Chairman MK Haim Katz (Likud) announced on Thursday that he has succeeded in obtaining a one-time grant of NIS 550,000 for orphans whose parents (both mother and father) were murdered in terrorist acts and who have not received compensation to date. The agreement was reached with both the Finance Ministry and Israel's National Insurance Institute and follows a bill presented to the Knesset by MKs Zvulun Orlev (New National Religious Party) and Dalya Itzik (Kadima). Children orphaned by terrorist attacks are considered part of the IDF's orphan population. In addition to the new grant obtained by Katz, the monthly stipend provided to the IDF's entire orphan population will be raised to match the amount received by IDF widows. The stipend is lifelong and accompanied by municipal tax benefits. The Knesset's legislative committee is scheduled to affirm the agreement on Sunday. Dani Bushkenitch, whose parents were murdered during Israel's Coastal Road massacre in 1978, said he opposed the agreement. "We [the orphans] are entitled to retroactive compensation, starting from the actual date of each terrorist attack," he said. He also stated that it is unacceptable that the orphans who, "have gone through such hell," will be entitled to so little. Aya Shor, whose parents were murdered in the same attack said she had "mixed feelings about the issue." Although she agreed with Bushkenitch, she said, "I want to get this story over and done with." "This is a daring and revolutionary law. We have achieved [a sum] that is considerably larger than what we had originally hoped for," MK Orlev said.
Children orphaned by terrorist attacks get NIS 550,000 grant
MK Zvulun Orlev: This is a daring and revolutionary law. We have achieved a sum that exceeds what we had originally hoped for • The monthly stipend will match the amount received by IDF widows.
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