A major accomplishment is included in the proposed state budget that was approved by the cabinet in an over 12-hour meeting that began on Wednesday evening, 20 Menachem Av. The chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, MK Moshe Gafne, as a result of tenacious efforts, got the supplementary income law included in the Arrangements Law of the budget, with the former having been disqualified by the High Court of Justice. The law addresses supplemental income for avreichim.

The High Court in 2011 ruled to disqualify the law that provided supplemental income to avreichim who are among the lowest income families. MK Gafne in January 2012 brought the law back to Knesset, and once again the High Court intervened and disqualified it.

Immediately following the establishment of the coalition Gafne began working on the law once again, working with colleagues in his Yahadut Hatorah party and well as with Shas and MK (Likud) Miki Zohar, who has worked tirelessly to push the matter forward. This time however, Gafne demanded that this is included in the Arrangements Law as a safeguard against the High Court.

Director-General of the Prime Minister’s Office Eli Groner announced the law has been included in the Arrangements Law as per the coalition agreements signed and after the budget is approved in Knesset, the avreichim will once again begin receiving supplementary monthly income.

It is added that while Gafne remains loyal to his beliefs and his constituents, he did not demand the payments retroactively, aware doing so would likely topple the effort.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)