The Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors also recently recognized Tunisian women and children who immigrated to Israel after October 1953 (and therefore are not entitled to receive compensation according to the Nazi Persecution Disability Law; AP), as Holocaust survivors from the first cycle - this is what Israel Hayom learned.
Until now, historical research has not acknowledged that women and children were forced to perform forced labor in Tunisia.
In the "Aviv Survivors of the Holocaust" association, which assists in the exploitation of rights for survivors, in recent months dozens of new requests for recognition have been submitted to the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors on behalf of Tunisian expatriates, and these have been recognized, as mentioned, as Holocaust survivors from the first round, which will now earn them a monthly allowance of several thousand shekels and many benefits.
400 coercive facts
Following the development, the Authority has so far recognized about 400 women who were forced to work in Tunisia, and about 300 children who joined them during the forced labor.
In all cases, these are women and children who immigrated to Israel after October 1953, and to this day have been recognized as Holocaust survivors from the second cycle - a recognition that over the years granted them a one-year grant (up to January 22, the amount of the grant was approximately NIS 3,900, and in January 22, the Ministry of Finance updated the The amount is 6,500 shekels; AP). Now they are entitled to a monthly allowance, and one could say - from a year of life. However, the Authority stressed that this is not a blanket recognition, and that each case is examined on its own merits.
As mentioned, this is a significant amendment that many Tunisian expatriates are still unaware of.
In 2015, an administrative decision was made, which recognized Romanian expatriates who worked in forced labor by virtue of a governmental order issued by the Nazis, and their children who accompanied them to forced labor, as Holocaust survivors from the first cycle.
Since many of the Jewish men in Tunisia were also sent to camps and sites for forced labor, this decision was also applied to Jewish men from Tunisia who were 18-50 years old in the relevant period, and they were recognized as Holocaust survivors from the first cycle.
Over the years, testimonies of Tunisian women and children began to come to light, that the women were forced to work for the German soldiers even without a government order - to sew, wash, iron, clean and cook for them.
The requests were rejected, among other things, because no documentation was found that in Tunisia, a Muslim country, Jewish women and their accompanying children were forced to work during the Nazi occupation.
"We will believe those who turn to us"
Following lawsuits submitted to the court, in which it was claimed that the German soldiers required the women to perform various jobs for them, and under pressure from the court, the policy changed.
Royt Lieberman, Director of the Claims Department at the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors: "Whoever writes to us that he did work, or as a child he joined his mother who did such and such work - we believe him. We will not look for him if his story is accurate. Every application is checked, and not everyone will be recognized Overall. It should be remembered that we are also subject to the standards and definitions established by the German government, but the goal is to facilitate and benefit all Holocaust survivors and allow them to live the rest of their lives with dignity."
Orli Sivan, CEO of the Aviv Association for Holocaust Survivors: "In recent months, we conducted a tracing operation for hundreds of Holocaust survivors from Tunisia, to update them on the latest developments and help them exercise their rights.
Every day we are informed of applications that have been approved thanks to the association's assistance.
I call on all Holocaust survivors: Contact our helpline, *5711.
Check if you are exercising your rights, and we will assist you with this free of charge.
In many cases, exercising rights can change lives, and we see this in the association every day."
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