Israel Cabinet: US Increases Aid, No Poverty For Holocaust Survivors

By Israel News Agency Staff

Jerusalem ----July 29..... The following was communicated by the Israel Cabinet Secretariat to the Israel News Agency.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem today Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed several issues on the agenda.

Olmert noted that over the weekend, the US officially announced an increase in security assistance to Israel over the next decade, at a rate of NIS 3 billion per annum. In practice, security assistance to Israel will grow by 25% over the next decade.

“This increase was made possible by a series of talks we held with the US during which the understanding was reached that Israel’s qualitative edge in the region had to be maintained, as well as its capabilities against the threats we are facing," said Olmert.

"The agreement in principle on the increase in assistance was achieved in a private talk I had with US President George W. Bush during my most recent visit to the US. I thank him and Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice, from whose department foreign assistance is paid, for understanding Israel’s security needs and for supporting my request to increase the assistance. This is a positive contribution to Israel’s security and to assuring its future capabilities. It will enable us to significantly strengthen the security establishment and to develop measures and systems that will provide responses to the threats we will face in the next decade. It must be pointed out that the assistance does not exist in a vacuum. The US also promised military assistance and weapons to the moderate Arab countries. Today, these countries are at the forefront of the global struggle between the moderate and the extremists. Iran - led Islamic fundamentalism threatens them as well - and in the framework of their being strengthened, there is the commitment that the weapons will not be used against Israel.”

Prime Minister Olmert said: “approximately two months ago, on Israel Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Day, I promised that my Government would prepare a plan to assist Holocaust survivors" (http://tinyurl.com/2h8uxd).

Staff work began at once under the direction of Israel Social Welfare and Social Services Minister Yitzhak Herzog. To my regret, he discovered that the State of Israel lacked even a single database from which it could be learned how many Holocaust survivors live in Israel and what their situation is. I
am pleased to announce that despite this, an assistance plan has been formulated and will be submitted to me tomorrow for approval," said Olmert.

"The plan, which is worth hundreds of millions of shekels over several years, will provide a response to the broad population of Holocaust survivors in Israel, including those who immigrated here. We will also try to mobilize additional, non-governmental resources for this important goal. Overall, we will be seeking to increase assistance to every family of Holocaust survivors by hundreds of shekels a month. It is clear to all of us that these people cannot be allowed to continue living in grinding poverty. This week, I hope that we will be able to look Holocaust survivors in the eyes and honestly tell them that we intend to quickly implement what Israel governments have not done for 60 years.”

On behalf of the Israel Cabinet, Prime Minister Olmert congratulated Defense Minister Ehud Barak on his recent marriage.

Israel Finance Minister Ronnie Bar-On and senior Israel Finance Ministry officials, and Prime Minister’s Office director-General Ra’anan Dinur briefed ministers on the Finance Ministry’s proposal for structural changes in 2008. These are designed to boost growth by encouraging competition, encouraging employment and strengthening weaker populations, developing infrastructure (physical, capital and human), and increasing public sector efficiency. See http://tinyurl.com/yp4rmn for further details.

The Cabinet discussed preparations for the coming (2007-2008) Jewish sabbatical year. See http://tinyurl.com/yp4rmn for further details.

The Cabinet discussed the Brodet Committee recommendations on the security budget. See http://tinyurl.com/35ca8x and http://tinyurl.com/yp4rmn for details.

The Israel Cabinet continued its discussion of education assistance in the city of Lod. See http://tinyurl.com/yp4rmn for further details.