Israel Allegedly Fails to Transfer Holocaust Survivors Their Restitution Payments

According to a report by Yediot Acharonot, over the past two years, Israel has failed to transfer millions of shekels in restitution payments received from the German government to Holocaust survivors. In an agreement between Israel and Germany, a committee was established to pay out the compensation for Holocaust survivors.

In 2019 the Claims Conference announced the monthly sum for survivors, which was 352 euros, and would reach 850 euros a month in January 2021.

Israel’s government appears to have offset the increase in the stipends transferred by the Germans from the monthly payments the state transfers to the survivors, allegedly saving money for the Treasury.

Social Equality Minister Meirav Cohen slammed the government for the suspected mismanagement of these funds.

“The German government transferred these funds in order to improve the welfare of Holocaust survivors and not to reduce the debts of the Treasury,” she said.