MK Orlev
MK OrlevIsrael news photo: Flash 90

MK Zevulun Orlev (Jewish Home) has submitted a new bill in which he seeks to stop the absurd situation existing at present in Israel, in which benefits are paid to families of terrorists, while those they harmed receive benefits as recognized victims of terrorism.

The change in legislation became necessary after a judge ruled that the family of a terrorist whose actions were caught on camera would receive a pension from the State.

The judge ruled in favor of the family after the family was able to convince her that there was some doubt that the terrorist’s actions were nationalistically motivated.

The judge said it was not possible to prove that the man was indeed a terrorist, and Orlev explained to Arutz Sheva on Sunday that her decision was based on a loophole in Israeli law that supports such a position.

This creates a situation in which the State adopts two contradictory positions simultaneously: it pays benefits to victims of a terror attack, recognizing the attack as terror, and at the same time pays the family of the terrorist who carried out the same attack, since it cannot be proven beyond any doubt that he was indeed a terrorist.

Orlev said that his proposed bill would stipulate that if an incident is characterized as a terror attack by the Israeli defense system, the family of the terrorist who carried it out will automatically not be able to receive a pension or any other government allowance.

Asked about the chances of his bill being approved by the Knesset, he said that he prefers to act as if it is not certain that the bill will pass, as there can  always be surprises and “there are always so-called 'justice seekers', who, in my view, are false-justice seekers.”