The Finance Ministry is planning to cut the budget for Income
Support Benefit for avreichim by five percent as part
of the government directives for a five percent across-the-
board cut in the 2006 Budget. MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni has
protested the plan to senior staff in the Finance Ministry,
and has been promised that a decision will soon be reached as
to whether to accede to his request and cancel the proposed
cut.
The budget for Income Support Benefit was already reduced a
year-and-a-half ago by eight percent, as part of an across-
the-board cut in all government ministries. Following Rabbi
Gafni's application to the Secretary General of the
government and to senior Treasury officials, it has been
decided to rescind the cut which discriminates against
avreichim. In addition, a further three percent cut
was cancelled, following a request on the part of Rabbi
Gafni.
This year an across-the-board five percent cut in the budget
of all government departments was agreed upon as part of the
approval of the Annual State Budget in order to finance the
coalition agreements which were signed with the formation of
the government. Unbelievably, the Finance Ministry has also
decided to cut the sum for Income Support Benefit from NIS
942 to less than NIS 900, beginning this month.
MK Rabbi Gafni turned to Finance Ministry Budget Supervisor
Kobi Haber and his deputy Raviv Sobol, and warned them of the
dire consequences of making cuts in Income Support Benefit
since they are funds allocated to the families of extremely
poor avreichim. Not only that, but there has been no
decline in the Income Support Benefit in the Bituach Leumi
(National Insurance Institute) while surpluses are available
this fiscal year for those avreichim receiving Income
Support Benefit from the Education Ministry.
Rabbi Gafni said that if the Treasury officials inform him
that the cuts are still slated to take place, he will
approach the Minister of Finance and explain the severity of
the situation to him.
"It is absurd that cuts in income should be imposed on the
very poorest families of avreichim at such a difficult
time," says Rabbi Gafni. "Some of those avreichim are
residents of the North, and how can people even think of
making cuts at a time which is so difficult, both with regard
to the security as well as the financial situation. It is
hard for me to understand how Shas, who form part of the
coalition, are allowing cuts like this to kolel
families — the economically weakest families —
including families who live in the North."
