Israelis were shocked and appalled last week as reports surfaced that the Dutch government has decided to reduce the stipends it provides to Holocaust survivors by 35%, if they live in Jewish settlements in the West Bank or eastern Jerusalem. “It is surprising and outrageous that the Dutch government, of all countries, chooses to impose sanctions against civilians who endured the Holocaust on its territory and who subsequently chose to move in with their children at an old age,”said Colette Avital, head of the Center of Organizations for Holocaust Survivors. “It is hard to accept such harassment of survivors, whose welfare needs to be sacrosanct in the eyes of the Dutch authorities.” There was also some good news for Israel out of Europe on Monday, as the Defense Ministry announced a grant from the German government to subsidize the purchase of four patrol boats for Israel’s navy. Read More
