The government approves the state's recognition of the serious affair • The outline of monetary compensation will be budgeted at NIS 162 million • Netanyahu: "The time has come for families to receive recognition and compensation"
A demonstration in Jerusalem around the Yemeni children affair in 2019
Photo:
Oren Ben Hakon
The government today (Monday) unanimously approved a historic financial settlement for the state's recognition of the Yemeni, Eastern and Balkan children affair and the transfer of monetary compensation to families affected during the years of the state's establishment.
These are families of 1,050 children whose case has been discussed in 3 commissions of inquiry that have investigated the issue for decades.
Each family that the investigation committee concludes determined that her son died, and that the family was not notified of his death in real time, will receive NIS 150,000.
If it is not known what happened to the child, the family will receive compensation of NIS 200,000.
In total, the government will allocate NIS 162 million for the issue.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I have brought to the government's approval a decision to compensate the families affected by the Yemeni, Eastern and Balkan children affair. This is one of the most painful affair in the history of the State of Israel. "The terrible suffering that the families have gone through and are going through is an unbearable suffering. Families who have great suffering must bear the little comfort they deserve."
Netanyahu added: "I ask the Minister of Education to include the Yemeni children affair in the textbooks of Israeli students. This affair must be recognized. "Prime Minister Tzachi Braverman, who led the issue successfully."
Minister of Finance Israel Katz: "In this decision, the Israeli government recognizes a painful affair that has been burned into the history of the country, and whose investigation has not yet been completed.
We will work to exhaust the rights of the bereaved families, who carry the pain with them to this day, and thus we will begin to heal even a little of the wounds of history.
At the same time, we will work to promote the commemoration of the glorious heritage of the Jews of Yemen, which is forever woven into the history of our people. "