JERUSALEM — The Jerusalem Post is reporting that the Meron victims’ families will finally be awarded financial compensation from the government.
According to initial reports, the families of the 45 victims who tragically perished will be given an initial payment of 500,000 shekel per family, pending government approval.
The announcement was made by Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and more details will presumably be forthcoming.
As VIN reported recently, it’s been eight months since the Meron tragedy, yet the families have not received one penny in compensation.
Rabbi Avigdor Chayut, who tragically lost a son, Yedidyah z”l, in Meron, and who himself was injured (in addition to losing a talmid), recently told Kikar Shabbos that the government has not paid any attention to the families whose lives were damaged.
“The government is ignoring its citizens,” he said in anguish. “The committee’s interim conclusions said that ‘the [government] is sorry for the families’ grief,’ so I ask, ‘How?’
Rabbi Chayut continued, “There is no discussion of compensation. I do not believe anyone can compensate me, and I don’t need compensation. I’m only asking for the tools to cope.”
As reported by Vos Iz Neias