Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today received, from retired Judge Dalia Dorner, the report of the commission she chaired on assistance to Holocaust survivors.

Judge Dorner told Prime Minister Olmert: “We examined the issue for several months.  Your Government was the first that dealt with Holocaust survivors.  Our report also contains recommendations regarding the external bodies related to dealing with survivors and which could improve the services they provide.  In contrast to other commissions, here, it was critically important to work quickly in order to assist those who are still alive.”

Prime Minister Olmert thanked Judge Dorner and said: “I am very grateful to you and your fellow commissioners for the efficiency of your inquiries.  My Government has indeed treated this issue will all due seriousness and took upon itself this issue, which had not been dealt with for many years.  We tried to provide the best response possible.  Ahead of the 2009 state budget as well, we will take various steps in order to ensure that the survivors will not suffer privation.  I will ask Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Ra’anan Dinur, who led the discussions with Holocaust survivors and outlined the way to deal with the issue – to make further recommendations in the wake of the report.  Beyond the monetary issues, the issues here are the moral ethos that we, as a country, would like to instill in future generations, and our degree of obligation toward the survivors.  I believe that in dealing with the issue, we have shown that our obligation is great and we have imparted a message to future generations as well.”