Jerusalem, 29 July 2008
Prime Minister Holds Ministerial Discussion on Implementation of Dorner
Commission Report
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today (Tuesday), 29.7.08, held a ministerial
meeting on the implementation of the report of the Dorner Commission of
Inquiry into Assistance to Holocaust Survivors. Present at the meeting
were: Finance Minister, Ronnie Bar-On, Justice Minister, Daniel Friedmann,
Minister of Welfare and Social Services, Yitzhak Herzog, Minister of
Pensioner Affairs, Rafi Eitan, Prime Minister's Office Dir.-Gen., Ra'anan
Dinur, Budgetary Director at the Finance Ministry, Ram Belinkov and
representatives of ministries involved in the matter. The Ministers
expressed their positions in respect to actions which the Government should
take in order to tend to the various aspects raised in the Commission's
report.

Prime Minister Olmert noted the importance in which he views the
Commission's work, and that of its Chairwoman, retired Judge Dalia Dorner.
The Prime Minister stated that the Government is responsible for ensuring
that an answer be provided for the various aspects raised in the report's
recommendations. In the coming weeks, and not after the 2009 budget
discussions, the Government is expected to discuss the possibilities for
implementing the report and decide its actions.
Prime Minister Olmert directed the Ministers to complete preparations to
formulate a Government decision regarding the report. The Prime Minister
also instructed to confer with the representatives of the Center of
Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in order to present the Ministries'
positions and the planned timetable for implementation, prior to the Cabinet
discussion.

The Prime Minister also related to the problem of exploitation of rights
amongst the Holocaust survivors, and expressed his concern that many of them
are not sufficiently aware, "We have yet to approach many, and we must
invest every effort to change this situation." Prime Minister Olmert
requested from Minister of Welfare and Social Services Yitzhak Herzog to
pledge that by September preparations will be completed to open a center for
the exploitation of rights, and directed to allocate funds to publicize the
matter.

ER/er 17:40 hours