The government approved this evening (Monday) the decision-makers' proposal to recognize the state in the case of the children of Yemen, the Middle East, and the Balkans and to transfer financial compensation to families who were harmed during the years of the state's establishment.
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In the approved resolution, the Israeli government expresses regret for the events that occurred in the early days of the state and recognizes the suffering of the families whose children were part of this painful affair.
The government approved the outline of financial compensation for the affected families in the amount of 162 million shekels - which will be distributed as follows: 150 thousand shekels to family members whose child died and whose family was not informed of his death in real time, including the circumstances of his death, or the child died and his burial place was not located, or his burial place was located with a significant delay.
Additionally, compensation of 200,000 shekels was approved for the affected family, in the event that the final committee's conclusion was that the fate of the child was unknown.
It was also decided that the family members, determined by one of the three committees that dealt with the affair - the Investigation Committee for the Discovery of Yemeni Children, the Committee to Clarify the Fate of Missing Yemeni Children, and the State Investigation Committee on the Disappearance of Children Among Yemeni Immigrants in the Years 1948-1954 - whose child died or whose fate is unknown will be able to submit a request for financial compensation during the months of June-November 2021. The decision was formulated in cooperation with the Ministries of Finance and Justice.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in the debate: "I have submitted for government approval a resolution to compensate the families who were harmed in the Yemeni, Mizrahi and Balkan children's affair. This is one of the most painful affairs in the history of the State of Israel. The time has come for the families whose babies were taken from them to receive recognition from the state and the government of Israel, as well as financial compensation. Compensation will not make up for the terrible suffering that the families have gone through and are going through; it is unbearable suffering. The families whose suffering is greater than they can bear must be given the little comfort they deserve.".
Finance Minister Israel Katz: "With this decision, the Israeli government recognizes a painful affair that is etched in the history of the state, and whose investigation has not yet been concluded. We will work to fulfill the rights of the grieving families, who carry the pain with them to this very day, and in doing so, we will begin to heal, at least a little, the wounds of history. Alongside this, we will work to promote the perpetuation of the glorious heritage of Yemenite Jews, which is forever intertwined in the history of our people.".
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who supported the compensation arrangement, mentioned at the government meeting the work of Rabbi Uzi Meshulam, who fought for the state to recognize the families' claim.
""I know I'm touching a painful wound, but it's part of healing the affair," Deri said. "I want to remember the late Rabbi Uzi Meshulam, who cried from the bottom of his heart about the kidnapping, cried out in pain, and some of us thought at the time that he was delusional.".
Deri continued: "We all remember the events in Yehud of Rabbi Meshulam and his followers, and today the Israeli government is taking a real step to take responsibility for this affair. We must remember Rabbi Meshulam, who gave his life to investigate the kidnapping of Yemenite Jews, and this is the place to honor his memory, and to pay tribute to the dear Jew Uzi Meshulam, and to remember the enormous struggle he waged over the years for such an important issue, which earned him harsh reactions and harsh treatment.".
Prime Minister Netanyahu reinforced his words and said that he agrees with his words regarding Uzi Meshulam.
""There was great abuse of Rabbi Meshulam," Netanyahu said. "He spoke from the depths of his heart about something true. We are doing everything to investigate the truth and correct the injustice.".
