Marathon negotiations yesterday and last night between Finance Ministry officials and representatives of deaf Israelis failed to produce an agreement to end the latter\'s 18-day strike. There are no current plans to renew negotiations. Today, dozens of deaf and handicapped demonstrators blocked the main street across from government offices in Jerusalem, causing local traffic delays. The protestors demanded that Knesset Members who expressed support for their cause back up their words with actions by voting against the government’s economic package, which includes limitations on benefits for deaf Israelis.
Representatives of the hearing-impaired are demanding governmental financial assistance totaling 50 million shekels a year, while the Finance Ministry is prepared to give only 9 million. The protestors noted that they have already compromised most of their demands and that the Finance Ministry is asking them to cross their final red line. In addition to governmental assistance, they are seeking daily translation/subtitling for news programs, 50 additional hours of translated/subtitled television programming per year, recognition of the Israeli Sign Language as an official language, additional income tax rebates and equivalent mortgage terms as those received by Israel Defense Forces veterans.
Representatives of the hearing-impaired are demanding governmental financial assistance totaling 50 million shekels a year, while the Finance Ministry is prepared to give only 9 million. The protestors noted that they have already compromised most of their demands and that the Finance Ministry is asking them to cross their final red line. In addition to governmental assistance, they are seeking daily translation/subtitling for news programs, 50 additional hours of translated/subtitled television programming per year, recognition of the Israeli Sign Language as an official language, additional income tax rebates and equivalent mortgage terms as those received by Israel Defense Forces veterans.