Former Prisoners of Zion seeking Israeli pensions

Friday, November 27, 1998 | by

JERUSALEM (JPS)—American Jews are speaking out for former Prisoners of Zion who are seeking Israeli pensions.

Former Prisoners of Zion Yosef Mendelevich, Ida Nudel, Victor Brailovsky, Vladimir Slepak and Yosef Begun joined Balint at the news conference.

They represent about 850 Prisoners of Zion who want to receive the same pensions accorded to Israeli civil servants or retired army personnel.

Former Prisoners of Zion who have reached pension age currently receive small monthly subsidies from the Jewish Agency, based on the time spent in prison or exile.

Those who were in prison or labor camps receive 6 percent of the average Israeli wage for each year of incarceration. Those who were exiled to Siberia receive 1 percent for each year in exile.

In addition to these subsidies, they are exempt from municipal rates and taxes. They receive 50 percent discount on medications and can visit medical specialists free of charge. Those living in rentals also receive a subsidy.

The Jewish Agency has always made it clear that these payments will continue only for as long as funds are available.

To ensure that they will continue indefinitely, the Zionist Forum has initiated a bill, whereby benefits paid to Prisoners of Zion by the Jewish Agency would be paid from Israel's budget. The bill also outlines levels of payment which are slightly higher and more wide ranging.