The Swiss government today transferred to the handicapped rehabilitation office of the Ministry of Finance $59 million to be distributed to needy Holocaust survivors in Israel. The source of the money is the $180 million fund set up by Swiss banks, the Swiss Central Bank and the organization of employers in February 1997, at the height of the Holocaust victims' deposits affair.
Distribution of the money in Israel was delayed for a long time due to differences of opinion between the government, Jewish organizations and survivor organizations. In recent months, Minister of Finance Avraham Shochat pressured all the parties to reach a settlement that would enable the money to be distributed. A settlement was reached last month, and on signing, Bern transferred the money to Jerusalem.
Last year, the handicapped rehabilitation office received 147,000 requests for aid. The grants a re limited to needy Holocaust survivors only, based on office criteria, in accordance with the terms set out in Swiss law when the fund was set up.
The office approved 105,000 requests, and the remaining 42,000 are being re-examined, or appeals against rejection are being examined. At this stage, each survivor will receive NIS 1,500, and if it transpires that most of the appeals are rejected, the sum will be increased.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 6 April, 2000