Disability rights in Israel explained
Disability rights in Israel are based among the rest upon disability pensions, accessibility regulations, therapy, special education, sheltered workshop and assisted living.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, the disabled people in Israel, with a population of 250,000,[1] have managed to equalize the disability pension from the Bituah Leumi (National Insurance Institute of Israel) to the minimum wage level in Israel. As of 2017,[2] the struggle was made by demonstrations, blocking main roads, highways and industries, activity in social networking services, petitions to the High Court of Justice, negotiations with the Government of Israel and bills in the Knesset.
In 2017, a full disability pension was 2,342 ILS.[3] The minimum wage in this year was 5,000 ILS, and in December 2017 it went up to 5,300 ILS per month.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Background
The General Disability Pension was linked to the national average salary in Israel, as it was determined in the National Insurance Law [combined version], 1995,[9] but in an amendment from 2003, it was determined in article 110 of the Law, that the pension will be linked to the Consumer Price Index.[10] [11]
In January 2000, the minimum wage was 2,797.75 ILS, and the disability pension in Israel was 2,239 ILS,[12] [13] 80 percent of the minimum wage. However, even in 2000 the disabled people demanded to equalize their pension to the minimum wage.
Most of the disabled Israelis who are entitled to a full disability pension and are permanently dependent on it for work incapacity, do not receive any other allowance. Those who receive an additional special allowance, receive it for special needs such as nursing or mobility, and it does not cover the costs to which it is intended. In addition, the designated allowances are not for basic subsistence needs.
The disability pension in Israel was one of the lowest in the OECD countries: In 2007, Israel was ranked 26th out of 31 countries. An examination conducted by OECD in 2007 also found that the disability benefit per capita in Israel was approximately 80 percent lower than the average allowance per capita in the OECD countries. In 2004, Israel raised the threshold of the sole Medical Disability from 40 percent to 60 percent, as the eligibility for Disability pension.[14] On 10 June 2018, the National Insurance Institute advertised an extensive research which found that the allowances in Israel were one of the lowest in the Western world, and wrote: "Israel's Social Security System is characterized by a very low level of generosity".[15] [16]
Legislative initiatives
On 7 December 2016, the Knesset approved in a preliminary reading, by a majority of 42 to 39, a law proposal, which had been submitted by MK Ilan Gilon to equalize the basic disability pension to the minimum wage.[17] Some months earlier, MK Nava Boker also submitted on 28 February 2016, a bill to link the disability pension to the minimum wage. The difference between her bill and Gilon's bill was that by Boker's bill, payments to disabled people from private insurances would be reduced from the disability allowance.[18] Boker's bill which received 82 signatures of Knesset members, was transferred to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, but was postponed several times.[19]
The Zelekha Committee
Following the discussion in the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, in mid-February 2017 the Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon appointed Professor Yaron Zelekha, in cooperation with the "Necheh, Lo Hetzi Ben Adam" (Disabled, Not Half a Human Being) Association led by Alex Fridman, to the head of a special commission to examine raising disability payments. In May 2017, Zelekha recommended an increase in the disability pension to 4,000 ILS per month in three stages, linkage of the pension to the Consumer Price Index plus one percent, raising the disregard (the amount which is allowed to earn) to the Minimum Wage level, equalizing payment of a nursing worker to the minimum wage, pension under a work disability and not only a physical disability, increasing pension of elderly disabled, and broadening the range of the mobility allowance.[20]
The Simhon Committee
In May 2017 the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Professor Avi Simhon,[21] chairman of the National Economic Council in the Prime Minister's Office, as a chairman of another committee with representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, Ministry of Health and the National Insurance Institute.[22] [23] The commission's recommendations were submitted after about a month. The allowance for a disabled person under this scheme would be 3,200 ILS and would be given to people with disabilities at the rate of 75% or more who were defined as poor, while the disregard of a salary would be decreased from 5,300 ILS (the minimum wage) to 4,200 ILS.[24] [25]
On 22 June 2017, MK David Bitan, Coalition chairman, convened a News conference and said that he rejected the recommendation of Simhon Committee to 3,200 ILS, and agreed with the Opposition to accept 4,000 ILS recommended by Zelekha Committee.[26]
With the establishment of the Simhon Committee, the disabled people reacted by repeated blockings of major roads in Israel such as the entrance to Ben Gurion International Airport from Highway 1,[27] [28] [29] the Ayalon Highway, Highway 4, Ra'anana Junction, the Coastal Road and the entrance to Jerusalem, near the Chords Bridge.[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
The demonstrators claimed that for decades they had demonstrated in front of the Knesset, the Ministry of Finance and the roads, but the government and the public ignored their demands. Therefore, they had to turn to roadblocks. Initially, the Israel Police did not take proactive enforcement action against roadblocks, but with increasing traffic disturbances, The police began to take a more severe hand, and some of the obstructions included clashes between the police and disabled people. As a result, several disabled people were arrested.[36] [37] In September 2017, the police issued a statement saying that it would no longer allow roadblocks in demonstrations, and that it would begin to fine the demonstrators who blocked roads.[38] The police added that it "will continue to allow freedom of expression and protest by law, but will not allow a public order to be violated and such a significant violation of the normal fabric of life of Israeli citizens".[39]
A week before the submission of the conclusions of the Simhon Committee, disabled representatives appealed to the High Court following the postponement of allowances increasing. In its response to the petition, the state claimed that the petitioners did not prove that the disability allowance of 2,342 ILS a month would not allow the right to live with dignity.[40] [41] On 18 June 2018, the chief justice Esther Hayut cancelled the petition in the High Court. She adjudicated that the disability pension has already been raised by legislation in February 2018,[42] and the petition should be corrected due to this raise.[43] [44]
On 4 September 2017, the Disabled people demonstrated outside the Histadrut offices in Tel Aviv.[45] On 5 September 2017, the Histadrut chairman Avi Nissenkorn met with the Disabled people's organizations, and told them that the Histadrut would be a full partner in their struggle.[46]
On 18 September 2017, there was a special plenum session in the Knesset, due to the delay in legislation, which resulted a submission of tens of MKs signatures to Yuli Edelstein, the Speaker of the Knesset. The subject of the session was the government's maltreatment in the disabled people.[47] Some MKs, as the former Minister of Finance Yair Lapid, attacked the government.[48] The session ended with a vote of 49 votes, with no opposition, to pass the issue to one of the Knesset committees.
Negotiation in the Histadrut
Toward the end of September 2017, Naomi Moravia, chairwoman of the "Israeli Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities", which was located in the Histadrut building in Tel Aviv, asked for Nissenkorn assistance in opposition to the government.[49] Following her request, Nissenkorn convened on the night of 29 September 2017, a night meeting at the Histadrut of representatives of disabled people with him, with MK Ilan Gilon and MK David Bitan, and with Avi Simhon. After 12 hours of negotiations until the morning hours, during which Yehuda Doron, a representative of the Polio Handicapped Association, retired from the discussion, and Dr. Amichai Tamir of the Disabled Organization remained in the discussion, but opposed the outline, it was agreed to supplement the disability pension in four stages until 2021, so that the final allowance would be 3,800 up to 4,000 ILS for disabled people and 4,050 ILS for 30 thousand individuals with above 80% disability. The sum of the disregard would be raised in two stages to 4,000 ILS in January 2018 and to 4,300 ILS in January 2019. The budgetary cost of the outline was 4.2 billion ILS, and it was agreed that the addition of 340 to 540 ILS for Disabled people, would start in January 2018.[50] [51] On 1 October 2017, Simhon claimed that the government could only commit to an addition of 1.3 billion ILS for 2018, and would not commit itself to the coming years.[52] Simhon explained that a computer program (a software agent) which was called Numerator,[53] limited the government's commitment without an appropriate budget clause, and therefore the inability to commit to 4.2 billion ILS.
Responses of disability organizations
Simhon's remarks about the inability to commit to 4.2 billion ILS, along with the expected addition in January 2018 of 340 ILS to disabled people and the four stages up to 2021, caused most disabled people to deny the outline which had been reached between the organizations "Israeli Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities" and "Necheh Lo Hetzi Ben Adam" and the Government, with the assistance of Nissenkorn.
The organizations "The Disabled Panthers" led by Eyal Cohen, "The A-team Disabled" under the leadership of Ofer Sofer,[54] the organization of disabled people, led by Tamir, and the Polio organization led by Doron, announced that they would continue to block roads until the disability pension would be equal to the minimum wage and would be paid with one stage.[55] [56]
Oren Helman, a Vice President of the Israel Electric Corporation, a father of a daughter with a disability, and a former advisor to Netanyahu for a year when Netanyahu was the Finance Minister, also published an article in the newspaper Globes after advertising the Histadrut outline, and demanded to increase the amount of the disregard to 15,000 ILS.[57]
Intensification of protests
On 3 October 2017, the members of "The Disabled Panthers" and "The A-team" blocked two entrances to the Port of Ashdod from six in the morning for five hours, causing heavy financial damage. The demonstrators agreed to evacuate the entrances to the port after the police agreed to void the traffic tickets which it recorded on their vehicles.[58] [59] [60] On 9 October 2017, during the Sukkot holiday, representatives of disabled people were hosted by the President Reuven Rivlin at the president's succah (tabernacle), which was opened to the general public. The president asked disabled people to hold a dignified dialogue with all the professional bodies.[61] Then disabled people went and demonstrated outside the house of the Interior Minister Aryeh Deri in the rain. From Deri, they went to the Prime Minister's residence on Balfour street, and blocked Gaza Street. From there they moved to, and blocked the traffic. On 15 October, for the first time in cooperation with representatives of disabled IDF veterans, disabled people disrupted the southern traffic on the Coastal Road near Netanya by driving slowly on the road, with the approval and in coordination with the police.[62] [63]
On 17 October 2017, disabled people gathered at a gas station near the Latrun Interchange, and from there they drove slowly on Highway 1 to Jerusalem, causing heavy traffic. They arrived at the Prime Minister's house and blocked the southern entrance gate on Balfour Street. Nicole Raidman arrived and caused a media storm when she gave 2,000 ILS to Hanna Akiva from "The Disabled Panthers".[64] [65] Then the Panthers' spokesman clarified that the money was transferred to cover their expenses, and was not used personally. After blocking the Prime Minister's residence, they blocked Keren Hayesod Street in Jerusalem, blocked Paris Square,[66] and from there they went to the Chords Bridge and blocked the entrance to Jerusalem until evening,[67] under the supervision of the police.
With the return of the Knesset to the Winter Session on 23 October 2017, disabled people from 15 organizations[68] [69] set up a tent opposite the Knesset, and clashed with its security guards in an attempt to break into the territory of the Knesset. The police closed Kaplan Street to traffic. When Naomi Moravia left the Knesset, disabled people burst out, shouting at her, and security guards accompanied her out.[70] [71] Disabled people also blocked the entrances to the Ministry of Finance.[72]
On 5 November 2017, members of "the Disabled Panthers" blocked the entrances and exits at the Haifa Oil Refineries for four and a half hours.[73] The security personnel of the Refineries went out to the protestors with refreshments.[74]
On 19 November 2017, the Disabled people blocked the entrances and exits of the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, when the weekly cabinet meeting was held there, and then blocked the Light rail traffic in Jerusalem.[75]
On 22 November 2017, at seven o'clock in the morning, "the Disabled Panthers" blocked the exits from Bitan's home in Rishon LeZion, in a similar manner to the four beats designed for disabled people. Some residents of the street tried to confront them, and the police forces in the area prevented it.[76] [77] [78] [79] From there, they went to Ben Gurion Airport and blocked the railway.[80] On 29 November 2017, they returned to Bitan's place at 5:40 in the morning, when it was still dark, and met Bitan on his way to his car, because Bitan's driver could not reach him, due to the blocking by the Panthers. Police accompanied Bitan, and the Panthers told Bitan that they would continue to block him and his neighbors until he realized that just a minimum wage would be the pension for all disabled people. Amnon Ben-Ataf followed Bitan, condemned him, told him that he disliked disabled people, and asked how his wife and his daughter could live on 2,400 ILS if they became disabled. Bitan replied to him: "Do not shout in my ear".[81] [82] In response, Moravia sent a bouquet of roses to Bitan, wrote: "We are not them", and signed on behalf of her organization's members.[83]
Legislation initiated by the government
On 25 November 2017, the Welfare Minister of Israel Haim Katz announced a bill on his behalf that would be placed on the Government's table. The "Israeli Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities" responded to Katz's bill, and rejected the non-linkage to the Average Wage in Israel, the lowering of the total amount from 4.2 billion ILS to less than 2 billion ILS, the absence of further increase of the Disregard in 2019, and the absence of further increase of the disability pension. On 26 November 2017, a memorandum of law was published,[64] which was the formal beginning of a legislative initiative initiated by the government for several changes in the disability pension following the agreement between the disability organizations and the government. On the same day, the disabled people demonstrated against Katz's bill, and blocked the light rail in Jerusalem for an hour.[84] [85]
On 5 December 2017, at a meeting of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee in the Knesset, which was headed by MK Eli Alaluf on the bill submitted by MK Gilon,[86] [87] a fight broke out between Arik Harari, who opposed the Histadrut's outline, and Ofer Buchnik of the "Israeli Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities".[88] According to Harari, he responded to the touch of Gabi Hadai from the "Israeli Human Rights Organization" at Simcha Benita, the chairwoman of "Mazor" organization.[89] [90] On 11 December 2017 Another meeting was held in the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. At this meeting, MK Moti Yogev of the Jewish Home said that it was absolutely necessary that the Disability Pension would not be affected due to going out of Disabled people to work, alongside the obligation to shorten the stages. MK Abd al-Hakim Hajj Yahya of the Joint List said that disability pensions are a commitment of the state towards its citizens, and the budget of 4.2 billion ILS is not something sacred. He said that the MKs had to check with the Treasury if there was over revenue. By Hajj Yahya, if there was money, the stages' number should be reduced. Eyal Cohen from "the Disabled Panthers" said that he had paid to the National Insurance every month without any stages, and his doctor told him a year ago, that he would have four years to live.[91]
On 20 December 2017, the Knesset approved unanimously in a preliminary vote the bill submitted by MK Mickey Rosenthal supported by Welfare Minister Katz, which would increase the allowance to 4,300 ILS in a gradual process. Katz said that a minimum wage for the disabled people probably would not happen.[92] [93] On 21 December 2017, "the Disabled Panthers" arrived at the home of Shai Babad, the Director general of the Finance Ministry, after Katz had said and had denied afterwards, that Babad had asserted that he totally had not cared about the Disabled.[94] [95] From Babad, the Panthers moved to Netanyahu in Caesarea, barricaded themselves in front of the house and pasted stickers of "the Disabled Panthers" on the door of his home, on the front door of his parking lot and on the street illumination.[96] [97]
On 29 December 2017, Boker announced that on Sunday, 31 December 2017, she would submit her bill to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for the sixth time. According to Boker, the Ministerial Committee approved the bill and attached it to the government bill.[98] On 1 January 2018, Gilon convened Knesset members from the Coalition and from the Opposition to discuss the absence of legislation by the government, even though the legislative deadline passed.[99]
On 3 January 2018, Netanyahu and Katz announced at a News conference that disabled people would receive an additional 161 ILS in July 2018, in addition to the planned 340 ILS.[100] The Disabled responded by blocking Highway 4 and burning tires, blocking the Golf Junction in Caesarea[101] and blocking the Power station in Hadera.[102] On the same day, Boker's bill passed in a preliminary reading in the Knesset by 86 votes without dissent.[103] In an interview with Israel Hayom, Katz admitted that the additions to the disabled pension were insufficient,[104] and a week later, blamed the Treasury for playing game, and said that Netanyahu did not care about disabled people.[105] [106] Fridman announced that the government was breaking the agreement and launched a campaign "We will not agree to half an Agreement".[107]
On 12 September 2018, Katz said in the government meeting that the agreement to transfer the National Insurance surplus to the Treasury is canceled. According to article 7 of the agreement, each party may notify the other party in writing, no later than three months prior to the end of a particular financial year, that from the subsequent fiscal year, it is no longer interested in investments under this agreement.[108] The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs told the media that the situation in which the money that was supposed to guarantee the future of the allowances and of the National Insurance Institute, served the current state budget – could not continue. In a reaction, MK Itzik Shmuli said that over the years, the Finance Ministry robbed more than 220 billion ILS from the National Insurance Institute funds. Instead of keeping the money to ensure compliance with obligations, it was burned on the political needs of the governments. This reckless and dangerous behavior has led to a catastrophic situation in which the Institute would not be able to provide the elderly, disabled people and the other eligible people in the future, what they deserved by law.[109] [110] [111] [112] [113] [114]
On 24 October 2018, there was a repeated vote in the Knesset on the law proposal of MK Gilon to equalize the disability allowance to the minimum wage. This time the proposal failed by 39 opponents against 37 supporters. MK Oded Forer cursed MKs of the Likud who left the vote, and let him do their job.[115] Neta Ben-Cnaan advertised the exact results.[116] [117]
On 26 November 2018, Kahlon said in the morning show "HaOlam HaBoker" (The world this morning) with Avri Gilad and Maya Ziv Wolf, that the disabled people have never received such a large addition. He said that it was clear that all the organizations of disabled people and the elderly people were satisfied. There is a small group which is not satisfied. Kahlon did not specify the addition which the disabled people got, but said: "They received a big sum".[118]
Protests against government legislation
On 8 January 2018, Ravit Ben Baruch, a disabled leader, addressed Simhon in her video in Facebook, and told him:
"What did you come to tell me? That as long as you could milk me with exorbitant taxes that have no parallel in any civilized country in the world, the arrangement between us worked great. Moreover, I have never earned a minimum wage, so I paid every month very good taxes, assuming naively that it was okay to cut me like it, because it went to families who needed it, but it has not been done. What can I tell you, each one of you? At the moment you would stop being a milking cow, you would have to expect it. This state would strip you of the last dignity which you still had, and would treat you as a beggar at the doorway. From the moment in which he could not suck my blood any longer, I became a burden. A burden on the state coffers. As such, he is sorry to disappoint me, I am not entitled to a pension. I get a handout and I have to thank nicely and shut up. In the sequence of the disgusting nonsense that came out of your mouth, you were right about one thing. There is no university in the world which could teach you what human compassion is. No, sir. You are just a lost cause. And do you know what? I do not need to get excited by you either. Who are you at all? You are just a pathetic little pawn, a spineless marionette which is pulled by strings. You also are not the addressee." [119]
On 15 August 2018, Ben Baruch joined "Tnufa Le-Dimona" (Momentum for Dimona), a political party in Dimona which was led by Eli Sagron towards the municipal elections in Israel on 30 October 2018.[120] On 3 October 2018, Ben Baruch joined "Kulanu" in Dimona, which was led by Michal Elmalem Abu,[121] [122] [123] [124] [125] and Amichai Tamir reacted to it.[126] When a reader, whose name was Eitan Sharon, asked if Kahlon also studied Business administration for burying the disabled people's rights, Ben Baruch replied that four years of her life were wasted in the university, because she could learn better during half a year from her father, who managed a business.[127] [128] [129] On 30 October 2018, Kulanu received one seat at the municipal elections in Dimona.[130]
On 22 January 2018, the "Israeli Human Rights Organization of People with Disabilities" returned and blocked the entrances to the Israel Aerospace Industries,[131] and the port of Ashdod.[132] The organization announced the government's failure to reach the outline which had been agreed in the Histadrut, and the organization's return, after painful compromises and condemnations by other Disabled, to its original demand: a disability pension of a minimum wage in one stage.
On 12 February 2018, the National Insurance Law was approved by the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, and the disabled people also participated in the committee.[133] The sums set did not meet the requirements of disabled people, but were accepted lawfully by the Knesset plenum on the night of 12–13 February. In response, The Disabled Panthers barricaded themselves at the Knesset with other disabled people,[134] and after an agreement with the Knesset officer, they voluntarily left the Knesset.
On 17 May 2018, the Disabled Panthers initiated a new project of serving food to disabled people. As a result, Yonathan Tadmor held a demonstration at the Government Compound in Tel Aviv on 31 May 2018, requesting a Minimum Wage for the Disabled and Elderly people.[135] [136] [137] [138] [139] The commander of the Police station, Commander Shlomi Sagi,[140] [141] pushed Yael Nitzav to Ayalon road.[142]
On 4 June 2018, the Disabled Panthers met with Yehuda Doron at the Clalit Health Services Headquarters in Tel Aviv, after the passing away of the Disabled Panther Raanan Kerklies, which had demonstrated against Clalit, demanding a full refund for an ambulance after a dialysis, which he received four times a week.[143] [144] After the meeting, the Disabled Panthers went down and blocked the head intersection of Arlosorov and Ibn Gabirol streets in Tel Aviv.[145] [146] [147]
On 28 June 2018, there were four demonstrations of the disabled people at the same time. The demonstrations were in Haifa in front of Kahlon's house, led by Yonathan Tadmor; in Tel Aviv on Ayalon Highway, led by Eyal Cohen; in Jerusalem near to the Prime Minister's house, led by Ofer Sofer, and in Beersheba at the plaza near Beersheba District Court, led by Ravit Ben Baruch.[148] [149]
On 16 July 2018, Tadmor led a meeting of disabled and elderly people at the Yaka square[150] in Jerusalem at 2:00 pm. They blocked mainly the public transportation, served by Egged, allowed some buses to pass from time to time, and blocked the square again, when it was organized mainly by the disabled Arabian Abu Shanab.[151] [152] Some Japanese tourists who visited the Knesset, passed by the demonstration and fully recorded it. Disabled people blocked also the National Square near the Supreme Court, the Light Rail[153] and the traffic by the Chords Bridge.[154] At 3:25 pm, Ravit Ben Baruch in a white shirt, Hannah Kim, a publicist and a mother of two children with autism, in a black dress, Yael Nitzav with a backpack, and Yaffa Friedman, came in the Knesset and wanted to submit a diploma of disgrace[155] to the Minister of Communications Ayoob Kara and to the rest of the 119 MKs, but a security man forcibly seized the diplomas,[156] banned the entry credentials of the four ladies and deported them out of the Knesset. Before the deportation, Heidi Moses,[157] a daughter of Eliezer Moses,[158] [159] [160] [161] [162] asked Ben Baruch why she did not attend the session of "Kulanu" with Kahlon, which was held nearby, and claimed that the diplomas were propaganda papers, and were seized by a decision of The Knesset officer. At the same time, another group of activists of the Likud stood nearby with a paper which praised the Likud, and recorded itself by a video, while the officer in charge looked at it with indifference. Ben Baruch replied Moses that Kahlon returned the disabled people to the roads to fight upon their lives. Moses told Kim that she was ten years in the Knesset and made achievements with Netanyahu. Kim asked Moses why she did not prevent the voting of Netanyahu against the correction of the Surrogacy Law,[163] and Moses called Kim "Darling", claiming that Kim shot the arrows towards the wrong human being.[164]
On 7 August 2018, the Disabled Panthers with additional disabled Israelis, blocked the exits at the Ben Gurion Airport.[165] [166] [167] [168] The police distributed bottles of water to the disabled demonstrators, who protested from 4:00 p.m. until 8:20 pm, and were filmed and interviewed by all the Israeli television channels, more than once.[169] [170] [171] Eyal Cohen advertised the demands of the Panthers in the demonstration at the Ben Gurion Airport:
" | 1. | It is inconceivable that there are people in the State of Israel who have to choose between food and medicine. |
| 2. | The State has determined by law that the minimum wage for a dignified life is 5,300 ILS for a healthy person. |
| 3. | It is impossible that the state would demand from a person to live by a miserable pension, after the state had determined that this person lost the ability to earn a living, and had to get a medical and psychological treatment, or from a person who reached the elderly age. We demand from the government the minimal necessity for living in dignity! |
| 4. | Before the government wastes billions of Israeli new shekels from the public funds on pointless projects such as submarines, huge salaries for elected officials, and political appointments, we demand the minimum amount for living in dignity for the weakened population. |
| 5. | Before the Minister of Finance reaches out and takes surplus collection from the National Insurance Institute in the amount of billions ILS in a year, we demand a fair distribution in the sum of the minimum wage for the weakened population. |
| 6. | We demand the minimum of 5,300 ILS to live in dignity. |
| | Public officials send false and misleading messages to the public by calling the despicable agreement, which was decided unilaterally, "a solemn and historic agreement." The above agreement does not reflect and has no agreement on the part of the organizations of the disabled and the disabled people in the state. |
| | Because the minimum is the living in dignity!"[172] | |
On 15 October 2018, the Disabled Panthers demonstrated in front of the Knesset, and Amnon Ben-Ataf was pushed to the ground by a police officer.[173] On 20 November 2018, the Disabled Panthers blocked the rail crossing near Yakum, until they were evicted by the police.[174] [175] Afterwards, Eyal Cohen made a speech and said:
"Recently a lot of people, the disabled people as well as the general public, have asked me about the blockades and the public support in the struggle of the disabled.
Now I turn to you with a question which gives you something to think about. The support which we get, according to what it seems, is: "Sit at home quietly, do not disturb us, we will support you".
Let us look back sixteen years. Sixteen years of a struggle, when the last one and a half years have been tougher. What sign did we see? What statement have we seen from the public which supports us? Except a like in Facebook and a siren on the road of folks who pass by. Not the drivers who are blocked. With likes on Facebook, we will not go to the grocery store and shall not buy medicines. Even with a siren of encouragement, we cannot bring food home.
The question is what we look for. Do we really want to get results, or just sit quietly at home and being liked? They will like us as poor people, who beg for bread, or they would dislike us and we could go to the grocery store and live in dignity.
The upcoming elections have awakened some members of the disabled organizations, who want to run for the Knesset. Their way is to step upon corpses, and they go out against the Panthers, against anyone who acts, because their main reason is the public opinion.
So think now, each one with himself, what do you prefer. Being liked by the audience, but remaining in poverty, or being disliked by the audience, but being able to go to the grocery store, buy medicine and live in dignity.
If most of the disabled public tells me that it prefers to be liked when it sits at home quietly and does not speak, I will accept it. I will stop the struggle, following the majority. If most of the disabled people tells me that we have to continue to fight and would not care what they think about us, because we care about the disabled and the elderly, not what the healthy people think about us, we will continue to intensify the struggle.
Yesterday, on railway, it was a step up. To this day, we have not been evicted forcibly. From now and on, these images would repeat themselves time after time. It depends on you. Have a wonderful day for everyone." [176] Similar words were said in the television show "Talk of the day" with Lucy Aharish on 21 November 2018, and Aharish said her opinion against the lawmakers.[177] On 26 November 2018, Cohen made an additional speech, and talked about the misleading which has been made by the government.[178]
The legislation determined that at the end of 2019, the disabled people would accept at least 3,700 ILS. Due to the April 2019 Israeli legislative election and the September 2019 Israeli legislative election, a provisional government could not approve such an extra budget, in the amount of billions of shekels. As a result, the disabled people initiated a demonstration in Tel Aviv on 31 October 2019.[179] [180] [181]
See also
External links
- Annual Report of the National Insurance Institute in 2016, Chapter 3: General Disability Pension (Hebrew)
- Statistical data of the National Insurance Institute in 2017 in one table, Statistical Monthly Bulletin No. 8 (Hebrew)
- The complete Zelekha Report, original document – signed, 20 pages, 30 April 2017 (Hebrew)
- A night interview with Iris Haya Zigdon in the tent in Jerusalem, on Avi Shikva's Facebook page, 25 October 2017, Length 30:48 minutes (Hebrew)
- Sarah Levi, The disabled protests hit the Prime Minister's the office, The Jerusalem Post, 29 October 2017 (English)
- Sefi Krupsky, Linoy Bar Geffen on life with a long-term care partner: "You need to be a millionaire to make payments", Calcalist website, 20 November 2017 (Hebrew)
- The system with Miki Haimovich, Season 5 Episode 3: "the Disabled Panthers", 2 January 2018, Length 51:59 minutes (Hebrew)
- 200 billion ILS of National Insurance Institute money, which you paid for your entire life, was transferred to the state coffers on the Facebook page of Mickey Rosenthal, 23 January 2018, Length 1:02 minutes (Hebrew)
Notes and References
- Web site: Zeev Klein. The Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved: The disabled pension will be raised. Israel Hayom. he. 18 September 2017. 20 May 2018.
- News: Itay Blumental and Omri Efraim. Disabled Israelis demonstrating in Tel Aviv: Our war of independence. Ynetnews. 13 June 2017. 26 May 2018.
- News: Telem Yahav. Disabled protest against NIS 2,342 disability benefits. Ynetnews. 9 August 2017. 26 May 2018.
- Web site: National Insurance Institute of Israel. General Information – Minimum Wage. Bituah Leumi. 28 May 2018. 28 May 2018.
- Web site: Max Schindler. Knesset votes to raise monthly minimum wage to NIS 5,300. The Jerusalem Post. 24 October 2017. 26 May 2018.
- News: Amiram Barkat. The minimum wage will be raised by NIS 300 in December, and will rise 23% in three years. Globes. 24 October 2017. 26 May 2018.
- News: Telem Yahav and Gad Lior. Minimum wage to rise to NIS 5,300 in December. Ynetnews. 29 October 2017. 26 May 2018.
- Web site: Minimum wage rising to NIS 5,300 on December 1. The Times of Israel. 30 October 2017. 26 May 2018.
- [s:he:חוק הביטוח הלאומי|the National Insurance Law]
- Web site: Knowledge center – Country Database – Israel. Pension and Development Network. Benefits are adjusted annually in January according to the increase in the consumer price index in the previous year.. 2010. 28 May 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Plan adds NIS 1.98 billion in funding for disability pensions. Ynetnews. 26 November 2017. 28 May 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. The disabled organizations petitioned the High Court of Justice against the state following the postponement of the increase in allowances. Haaretz. In 2000, the monthly disability pension stood at 2,239 ILS.. 6 June 2017. 28 May 2018.
- Web site: Tal Carmon. Disability pensions: Burden of proof. Davar1 ("In the first place"). he. To the petition were attached data according to which in 2000, the monthly disability pension stood at 2,239 ILS.. 9 August 2017. 28 May 2018.
- Web site: Shelly Levy, Senior Research Coordinator. General Disability Pension in Israel. Knesset. he. pages 8, 4. 2 November 2010. 30 May 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. National Insurance Institute study: Allowances in Israel – one of the lowest in the Western world. Ynet. he. 10 June 2018. 11 June 2018.
- Web site: Jacques Bendelac. The Social Protection System in Israel and in OECD Countries, 2017. Btl. he. April 2018. 11 June 2018.
- News: Moran Azulay. Pandemonium in coalition following Knesset vote loss. Ynetnews. 9 December 2016. 1 June 2018.
- Zvi Zerahia. Bill: The disability pension would be doubled to 4,650 ILS. TheMarker. he. 28 February 2016. 26 June 2018.
- News: Moran Azulay. Disabled pension increase frozen while Knesset on recess. Ynetnews. 31 July 2017. 1 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. Monthly Disability Benefits Should Rise to Over $1,000, Israeli Panel Recommends. Haaretz. 14 May 2017. 2 June 2018.
- Book: Avi Simhon. Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Adrian Filot. Netanyahu decided: A joint committee will determine the addition to the disabled pension. Calcalist. he. 10 May 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Itay Blumenthal. Disabled protest blocks major Tel Aviv intersection. Ynetnews. Length 1:19 minutes. 18 May 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Disabled People Demonstrate for Increased Benefits. Hamodia. 13 June 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. Israeli Panel to Recommend Lower Disability Benefits as Netanyahu Breaks Promise. Haaretz. 14 June 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Globes correspondent. Coalition, opposition agree: NIS 4,000 disabled allowance. Globes. 22 June 2017. 26 June 2018.
- News: Omri Efraim. Disabled protestors block airport entrance, threaten to set themselves on fire. Ynetnews. 21 June 2017. 3 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. Disabled people blocked the entrance to Ben Gurion Airport for two hours. Facebook. he. Length 7:47 minutes. 21 June 2017. 24 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron and Yaniv Kubovich. Disabled Israelis Protest Meager Increase in Benefits, Block Road to Airport. Haaretz. 21 June 2017. 3 June 2018.
- News: Liran Levy. Road to Jerusalem opened after disabled demonstrators block access in protest of low government assistance. Ynetnews. 8 May 2017. 3 June 2018.
- Web site: Aharon Rabinovich, Yotam Berger and Lee Yaron. After approval of the limited benefits outline: The disabled blocked the entrance to Jerusalem. Haaretz. he. 27 June 2017. 3 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon and Raanan Ben Zur. Disabled protests: demonstrators block coastal highway near Hadera. Ynetnews. 22 August 2017. 3 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon and Raanan Ben Zur. Highway 4 blocked from Geha Interchange towards Givat Shmuel due to disabled people's protest. Ynetnews. 24 August 2017. 3 June 2018.
- News: Omri Efraim. The Struggle of the Disabled: Protesters blocked Highway 4 in the Sharon area and burned tires. Ynet. he. Length 2:26 minutes. 7 September 2017. 3 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protestors block Coastal Highway. Ynetnews. 24 September 2017. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Four disabled protesters arrested after assaulting policemen. Ynetnews. Length 0:49 minutes, length 0:28 minutes. 13 August 2017. 3 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The violent arrest of disabled people in the Ashdod area. The police blocked the convoy of the disabled people to Ashdod at a checkpoint with a police ambush near the Ashdod interchange, and arrested 5 disabled people. Photographed on 2017-08-13. Facebook. he. Length 15:51 minutes. 23 April 2018. 22 July 2018.
- Web site: Yaniv Kubovich. The Police to the Disabled organizers of the Demonstrations: We will not allow more roadblocks. Haaretz. he. 24 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled demonstrators clash with police in Herzliya protest. Ynetnews. Length 1:46 minutes. 27 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. The Disabled Organizations petitioned the High Court of Justice against the state, following the postponement of raising the allowances. Haaretz. he. 6 June 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron and Yaniv Kubovich. Disabled Activists in Israel Block Major Highways in Protest of Stagnant Disability Allowances. Haaretz. 25 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: Knesset raises disability benefits as protesters push for bigger boost. The Times of Israel. 13 February 2018. 19 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. The High Court of Justice ordered the cancellation of the petition of disability organizations to equalize the disability pension to the minimum wage. Haaretz. he. 18 June 2018. 19 June 2018.
- Web site: High Court. High Court verdict at file 4563/17. Supreme Court of Israel. he. 18 June 2018. 19 June 2018.
- News: Itay Blumenthal. Disabled protesters demonstrate outside Histadrut Labor Federation's offices in Tel Aviv. Ynetnews. 4 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- News: Itay Blumenthal. Nissenkorn meets with disabled protestors, assures them Histadrut a full partner. Ynetnews. 5 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: The Knesset. Special conference: The 261st session of the 20th Knesset. Agenda proposal: The government's maltreatment in the disabled people. Knesset. he. 18 September 2017. 26 June 2018.
- Web site: Yair Lapid. The struggle of the disabled is justified, there is no one who can argue with this demand. On the moral level. On the practical level. It is impossible to live from 2,342 ILS a month.. Facebook. he. 18 September 2017. 26 June 2018.
- Web site: Tal Carmon and Nitzan Zvi Cohen. The struggle for the Disability Pensions: Working with the Disabled. Davar1. he. 27 September 2017. 5 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Agreement reached, disability pensions will be raised. Ynetnews. 29 September 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: After protests, state agrees to up disability benefits to over NIS 4,000. The Times of Israel. 29 September 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Adrian Filot. Avi Simhon on the agreement with the disabled: There is no possibility of committing to the rest of the additions for the years to come. Calcalist. he. 1 October 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: Lahav Harkov. What has Israel's Government done for its Citizens lately?. The Jerusalem Post. So, why aren't a third of government decisions implemented? In short, because of bureaucracy and politics. The expected answer, budgets, is in reality less of a problem, because funding for three years is built into all government planning, as part of a recent Finance Ministry initiative called the numerator.. 19 August 2017. 5 June 2018.
- Web site: Social Justice Party. With a great sorrow and a dark grief, we announce the untimely passing of Ofer Sofer of blessed memory. Facebook. Hebrew. 8 April 2019. 8 April 2019.
Web site: Disabled, Not Half a Human Being. Disabled, Not Half a Human Being is shocked and hurt by the premature departure of Ofer Sofer of blessed memory. Facebook. Hebrew. 8 April 2019. 8 April 2019.
- Web site: Sarah Levi. The fight for Minimum Wage: The battle may be won but the war continues. The Jerusalem Post. 1 October 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled Panthers block road over benefits agreement. Ynetnews. 1 October 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Oren Helman. We missed the Integration of People with a Disability at Work. Globes. he. 29 September 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protest: protesters blocking entry to Ashdod port. Ynetnews. 3 October 2017. 07:40 am. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protest: protesters blocking entry to Ashdod port receive traffic tickets. Ynetnews. 3 October 2017. 10:53 am. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. After 5 hours: The Disabled people were evacuated and the Ashdod port was opened. Ynet. he. 3 October 2017. 11:16 am Length 2:24 minutes. 6 June 2018.
- Web site: Davar1. Equalizing Disability pensions: The Disabled went to Jerusalem. Davar1. he. 9 October 2017. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled Panthers block coastal road to the south. Ynetnews. 15 October 2017. 6 June 2018.
- Web site: Dana Yarkzi. At the height of the rush: Activists of the Disabled Protest disrupted the movement in the Netanya area. Walla!. he. For about an hour, the demonstrators disrupted traffic on the highway, which was reduced by the police to two separate routes. Later, the police blocked the road to allow the demonstrators to return to the starting point at the gas station near the Netanya interchange.. Length 0:47 minutes. 15 October 2017. 6 June 2018.
- Web site: Socialite stuns disabled-rights protester by handing her a wad of cash. The Times of Israel. Length 1:20 minutes. 18 October 2017. 6 June 2018.
- Web site: Allison Kaplan Sommer. The Controversial Celebrity Socialite Who Lives Large With the Netanyahus. Haaretz. Length 1:20 minutes. 19 October 2017. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protest: Jerusalem's Paris Square blocked by protestors. Ynetnews. 17 October 2017. 4:33 pm. 6 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protest: Exit and entrance to Jerusalem blocked near Chords Bridge. Ynetnews. 17 October 2017. 6:23 pm. 6 June 2018.
- Web site: Yisrael Price. Ben Gurion Airport Next Target of Disabled Protest Campaign. Hamodia. 22 October 2017. 8 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled objecting to deal with government threaten to shut down Ben Gurion Airport. Ynetnews. 23 October 2017. 7 June 2018.
- Web site: Sarah Levi. Pitching a tent for Justice: Disabled Israelis continue protests for livable wage. The Jerusalem Post. 23 October 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. The Disabled set up a protest tent in front of the Knesset: Planning a day of rage. Ynet. he. 23 October 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Hagai Amit. Protest of the Disabled: Protesters Block Access to the Ministry of Finance. TheMarker. he. 25 October 2017. 7 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. The Disabled people blocked the entrance to the Refineries for 4.5 hours. Ynet. he. Length 2:55 minutes. 5 November 2017. 7 June 2018.
- Web site: The men of silence. The security personnel of the ORL (Oil Refineries Ltd) went out to the protesters of the Disabled Panthers with refreshments. Walla! Hamal. he. Length 0:14 minutes. 5 November 2017. 7 June 2018. 16 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153829/https://hamal.walla.co.il/post/-Ky9iylp8Z8Vk6QiT5GS. dead.
- News: Amir Alon and Yishai Porat. The roadblocks are back: Disabled people demonstrated at the entrance to Jerusalem and stopped the light rail traffic. Ynet. he. Length 1:23 minutes. 19 November 2017. 7 June 2018.
- Web site: Disabled activists block lawmaker's street. The Times of Israel. 22 November 2017. 8 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Disabled Panthers in the first-time blocking in front of the David Bitan House in Rishon LeZion. Facebook. he. Length 6:11 minutes. 22 November 2017. 8 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Disabled Panthers in a second-stage blocking in front of the David Bitan House. Facebook. he. Length 6:27 minutes. 22 November 2017. 8 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Disabled Panthers in a third blocking in front of the David Bitan House. Facebook. he. Length 5:27 minutes. 22 November 2017. 8 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. Disabled on the railway line east of Ben Gurion Airport. Facebook. he. Length 2:33 minutes. 22 November 2017. 8 June 2018.
- Web site: Disabled activists block coalition whip David Bitan's street. The Times of Israel. 29 November 2017. 9 June 2018.
- Web site: Five with Rafi Reshef. The disabled man who cursed coalition chairman Bitan: I spoke from the blood of my heart. Nana 10. he. Length 6:10 minutes. 29 November 2017. 9 June 2018. 16 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616130802/http://10tv.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=1276099. dead.
- Web site: David Bitan. Shabbat Shalom to the whole Nation of Israel (Receiving a bouquet of roses from Moravia). Facebook. he. 1 December 2017. 9 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. The Disabled oppose the new bill: We shall protest in a way which has not yet been looked alike. Ynet. he. Length 0:31 minutes. 27 November 2017. 12 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. Blocking the Light Rail for about an hour: Tough traffic disruptions on Sunday 2018-11-26. the Disabled people demand Disability Pension at the Minimum Wage level now. Facebook. he. Length 4:55 minutes. Ofer Sofer: We demand the Minimum Wage and shall not give up. We will continue and will do it the whole week and the whole month, every day, every day. We shall not stop, shall not stop.. 26 November 2017. 12 June 2018.
- The MKs Karin Elharar, Dov Khenin, Yael German, Michal Rozin, Issawi Frej, Omer Bar-Lev and Tamar Zandberg have joined Gilon's bill, and two additional suitable bills were discussed
- Web site: The Knesset. Protocol No. 649 From the meeting of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Knesset. he. 5 December 2017. 14 June 2018.
- Web site: The Knesset. Protocol No. 649 From the meeting of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Knesset. he. Pages 42–48. In bold letters: "One of the Disabled strikes another Disabled. Shouts and noise in the committee room. The guards stop the brawl". 5 December 2017. 14 June 2018.
- News: Yishai Porat and Amir Alon. The beatings in the Knesset: They tied my hands, I became a ninja. Ynet. he. Length 1:37 minutes. 5 December 2017. 14 June 2018.
- Web site: Disabled activist stabs rival with a pen in Knesset brawl. The Times of Israel. Length 0:23 minutes. 5 December 2017. 14 June 2018.
- Web site: The Knesset. Protocol No. 650 From the meeting of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Knesset. he. 11 December 2017. 14 June 2018.
- Web site: Zeev Klein. Gained preliminary approval: Disability Pension would rise to 4,300 ILS. Israel Hayom. he. 20 December 2017. 13 June 2018.
- Web site: Tal Carmon. Promises have to be fulfilled: The increase in the Disability Pensions was preliminarily approved. Davar1. he. 20 December 2017. 13 June 2018.
- Web site: Dana Yarkzi. Disabled protest: Demonstrators protested near the house of the Ministry of Finance Director. Walla!. he. 21 December 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. Protest of the Disabled: Demonstrators outside the home of Shai Babad, Director General of the Finance Ministry, in Hod Hasharon. Facebook. he. Length 4:44 minutes. 21 December 2017. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Protest of the Disabled: about 20 protesters are barricaded at the entrance to Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea. Ynet. he. 22 December 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. In front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea. Facebook. he. Length 6:10 minutes. 22 December 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Nava Boker. On Sunday I will raise at the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for the sixth time my bill raising the Disabled allowances to the Minimum Wage. Facebook. he. 29 December 2017. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Tal Carmon. The Disability Allowances: Will the legislators do a strike?. Davar1. he. 1 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Yael Friedson and Amir Alon. Netanyahu presents plan to increase disability benefits. Ynetnews. 3 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Documented Confrontation: Urban Inspectors on a Disabled Protester in Caesarea. Ynet. he. Length 1:40 minutes, length 0:42 minutes (Netanyahu). 3 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. The protest of the Disabled: The entrances and exits from the Hadera Power Plant were blocked for about an hour. Ynet. he. 3 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Nava Boker. My bill to raise the allowances for Disabled people was passed today in a preliminary reading by a majority of 86 MKs and without opponents. Facebook. he. Length 2:00 minutes. 3 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Zeev Klein. Minister Katz admits that the additions to the disabled are insufficient. Israel Hayom. he. 7 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon and Alexandra Lukash. Katz, Treasury playing blame game over disability benefits delay. Ynetnews. 15 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Katz to disabled: PM Netanyahu does not care about you. Ynetnews. 18 January 2018. 18 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled people launch a Campaign: Netanyahu did not stand the word. Ynet. he. Length 0:42 minutes. 11 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: The agreement on October 19, 1980, between the Government of Israel and the National Insurance Institute. Haaretz. he. The surpluses would be invested in Israeli governmental bonds – Ebal (5.5% per year) and Gerizim (5% per year), which would be sold to the National Insurance Institute only. 12 September 2018. 13 September 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. For First Time Since 1980, Israel's National Insurance Institute Won't Give Surplus to Treasury. Haaretz. 12 September 2018. 14 September 2018.
- Web site: Eytan Halon. National Insurance Institute ends transfer of surplus funds to government: MK Itzik Shmuli (Zionist Union) welcomed the cancellation of the long-standing agreement and strongly condemned the government's waste of the NII's surplus funds. The Jerusalem Post. MK Ilan Gilon (Meretz) also praised the end of the agreement.. 14 September 2018. 14 September 2018.
- Web site: Shachar Ilan. Katz to Netanyahu and Kahlon: The agreement to transfer National Insurance surplus to Treasury is canceled. Calcalist. he. 12 September 2018. 14 September 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. National Insurance Institute may go bankrupt in 19 years. Ynetnews. 29 July 2018. 14 September 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Minister of Social Affairs: Stop transferring surplus collection from the National Insurance to the State. Ynet. he. 12 September 2018. 14 September 2018.
- Web site: Haim Katz. To prevent the funding of current government expenses on account of your allowances, I decided to cancel an agreement since 1980 which determined that the surplus collection of the National Insurance Institute would be automatically transferred to the Treasury. Facebook. Length 4:53 minutes. he. 14 September 2018. 15 September 2018.
- Web site: Yaki Admaker. MKs in the Likud left the vote against the Disabled, rage in the coalition: Fuck off. Walla!. he. 24 October 2018. 24 October 2018. MK Oded Forer: "Fuck off, all your ministers have fled, the Likud has fled, we should bear all of you. You stand and lie to us, shame on you, you sit here and shout at us instead of taking over your party?".
- Web site: Neta Ben-Cnaan. Video of the vote. Facebook. he. Length 14:55 minutes. 24 October 2018. 24 October 2018.
- Web site: Neta Ben-Cnaan. Reviewing the vote for you, and the conclusion: Even one MK from the ruling Likud party in the state – did not vote for the Disabled – certainly not the Prime Minister himself, and apparently that was the order. Facebook. he. 24 October 2018. 24 October 2018.
- Web site: Haolam Haboker. What did the finance minister have to say about the situation of the disabled people and of the elderly pensions?. Facebook. he. From minute 9:18 to 10:04, total Length 12:13 minutes. 26 October 2018. 26 October 2018.
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. A monolog of Ravit Ben Baruch to the Elected Officials and to the whole Nation about the Struggle. Facebook. he. Length 10:59 minutes. 6 February 2018. 2 July 2018.
- Web site: Eli Sagron. A post of Sagron about Ben Baruch's joining. Facebook. he. 15 August 2018. 16 August 2018. I am pleased to announce and welcome the joining of Ravit Ben Baruch to "Tnufa Le-Dimona" party..
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. In Dimona, From left to right: Roy Folkman, MK of Kulanu; Moshe Kahlon, Minister of Finance from Kulanu; Michal Elmalem Abu, a candidate for Dimona municipality from Kulanu. Facebook. 21 October 2018. 22 October 2018.
- Web site: Mey-tal Otmazgin. Senior members of the Kulanu party during visits in Dimona. Facebook. he. 28 October 2018. 29 October 2018.
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. It is important to know and remember.... Facebook. he. Voted today against the Disabled people in Israel: Kulanu: Michael Oren, Eli Alaluf, Meirav Ben-Ari, Akram Hasson, Rachel Azaria, Roy Folkman, Tali Ploskov.. 25 October 2018. 29 October 2018.
- Web site: Doron Levy. In our time we vote Kulanu. Facebook. he. 3 October 2018. 3 October 2018.
- Web site: Kulanu Dimona. Ravit Ben Baruch, forty year old, a mother of a five-year old daughter. Facebook. he. 3 October 2018. 3 October 2018.
- Web site: Amichai Tamir. Roy and Yifat supported the comparison of the Disability Pension to the Minimum Wage. Unfortunately, only Kahlon determines in the Kulanu party, which has a few good MKs and a bad party leader!. Facebook. 21 October 2018. 23 October 2018.
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. If you ask me, four years of my life were wasted in the university. Facebook. he. 4 October 2018. 5 October 2018.
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. Get in my... and take a number, because there is a long queue. Facebook. he. 5 October 2018. 5 October 2018.
- Web site: Ravit Ben Baruch. It is already quite clear that I am not a politician and there is no chance that I will ever be, even if I really try, and that is what is, for better and for worse. Facebook. he. 5 October 2018. 5 October 2018.
- Web site: Itzik Ben-Simhon. One mandate is respectable, but is not enough. Facebook. he. 31 October 2018. 31 October 2018.
- News: Amir Alon and Itay Blumenthal. Returned to the roads: The Disabled blocked the entrance to Ben Gurion Airport. Ynet. he. Length 1:27 minutes. 22 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: The Headquarters of the Struggle. Obstacle in the Ashdod port – Disability pension at the Minimum Wage level and one beat. Facebook. he. Length 4:21 minutes. 22 January 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: The Knesset. Protocol No. 704 From the meeting of the Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. Knesset. he. 12 February 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Knesset passes bill to raise disability benefits, disabled object. Ynetnews. 13 February 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Lee Yaron. 200 Disabled Protesters Block Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway Demanding Livable Allowance. Haaretz. 31 May 2018. 7 June 2018.
- Web site: CPI. Disabled and Pensioner Protesters Block Major Tel Aviv Highway. Maki. 31 May 2018. 7 June 2018.
- Web site: Yuval Bagno. The protest of the disabled is renewed: roads will be blocked in front of the Government Complex in Tel Aviv. Maariv. he. 31 May 2018. 31 May 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Demonstration of disabled and elderly: Ayalon South was blocked for about an hour. Ynet. he. Length 2:47 minutes, length 0:49 minutes. Ronit Tzarfati, one of the leaders of the disabled protest: We returned to the roads because after 16 years of abuse, we received pennies. We demand a pension at a Minimum Wage level. We are not negotiating and will not give up.. 31 May 2018. 31 May 2018.
- Web site: Dana Yarkzi. 150 Disabled and Elderly people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and blocked roads. Walla!. he. 31 May 2018. 31 May 2018.
- .
- Web site: Morning News System. The police on the drunk boys on Purim: It is not an unusual event, it is important that the parents would be involved. Keshet 12. he. Length 7:01 minutes, Sagi is interviewed from minute 0:56 and on. 4 March 2018. 1 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. Disabled people are blocking Ayalon Highway. Facebook. he. Length 5:34 minutes. At minute 4:40 Commander Shlomi Sagi pushed Yael Nitzav to the road. 31 May 2018. 1 June 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. An amputee hunger striker: 3,000 ILS for an ambulance per month is a death sentence. Ynet. he. Length 6:41 minutes. 7 February 2018. 4 June 2018.
- Web site: Tzeira Nachmias. The Disabled Panthers on the 7th floor of the Clalit executive in Tel Aviv. Facebook. he. Length 3:20 minutes. 4 June 2018. 4 June 2018.
- News: Itay Blumental. Disabled protesters block central junction in Tel Aviv. Ynetnews. 4 June 2018. 15 June 2018.
- News: Itay Blumental. Disabled protesters blocked a central junction in Tel Aviv. Ynet. he. Length 7:22 minutes. 4 June 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Disabled protest here in Tel Aviv. Facebook. he. Length 8:34 minutes. 4 June 2018. 15 June 2018.
- Web site: Disabled protesters block major TA highway demanding benefits increase. The Times of Israel. Length 0:23 minutes. 28 June 2018. 2 July 2018.
- Web site: Tal Carmon. Returning to the streets: The disabled and the elderly demonstrated in Beer Sheva, Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Davar1. he. Length 0:41 minutes. 28 June 2018. 2 July 2018.
- Web site: Laju Paul. Through the Land of Israel III: Yaka Square at the intersection of Kaplan and Rothschild streets, Jerusalem. Laju Paul K3. 6 January 2012. 17 July 2018.
- .
- Web site: Tal Carmon. Demand justice: "not rich in money, rich in spirit". Davar1. he. 16 July 2018. 17 July 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Light Rail traffic was disrupted due to the demonstration of the disabled people in Jerusalem for about an hour 2018-07-16. Facebook. he. Length 5:29 minutes. 17 July 2018. 22 July 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The difficult traffic disruptions at the entrance to Jerusalem near The Chords Bridge: the disabled block the heart of the Jerusalem City 2018-07-16. Facebook. he. Length 8:50 minutes. 17 July 2018. 22 July 2018.
- Web site: Michal Hason. A Disgrace Diploma. Davar1. he. 13 July 2018. 22 July 2018.
- Web site: Yaffa Friedman. Submitting disgrace diplomas to Israeli MKs. Facebook. he. Length 3:03 minutes. 16 July 2018. 17 July 2018.
- .
- Web site: Yaakov Grodka. Committee member MK Moses slapped the cheek of the secretary of the Yeshivot Association Shlomo Brilliant, following his anger that he had not received a number of documents on the subject. Bhol. he. Length 0:29 minutes. 30 January 2017. 19 July 2018.
- Web site: MK's grandson caught at Ben Gurion Airport smuggling cocaine. The Times of Israel. 6 May 2018. 19 July 2018.
- Web site: YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem. Update on Grandson of Chareidi MK who was caught with millions in Cocaine at Ben Gurion Airport. The Yeshiva World. A daughter of MK Menachem Eliezer Moses, Heidy, tells Kan News that she has no doubt that Baruch Klein, the 22-year-old grandson of MK Moses, is covering up for someone "as that is his nature", indicating that he alone would never be involved in such an act and he is clearly unwilling to speak.. 9 May 2018. 19 July 2018.
- News: Gilad Morag. Grandson of United Torah Judaism MK indicted for smuggling cocaine. Ynetnews. 10 May 2018. 19 July 2018.
- Web site: Gilad Morag. The cocaine was hidden in the side the suitcase as well as in wine bottles (Photo: Israel Police's Spokesperson). Ynet. he. Length 0:58 minutes. 10 May 2018. 22 July 2018.
- Web site: Jeremy Sharon and Jonathan Weber Rosen. Gay couples denied right to surrogacy in new law. The Jerusalem Post. 18 July 2018. 19 July 2018.
- Web site: Heidi Moses. Moses's reply to Kim. Facebook. he. 19 July 2018. 19 July 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protest blocks Ben Gurion airport. Ynetnews. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Disabled protesters snarl car traffic at Ben Gurion Airport. The Times of Israel. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Dror Halavy. Disabled Take Protests to the Air(Port). Hamodia. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Disabled protesters block Ben Gurion Airport. Arutz Sheva (Israel National News). Length 0:12 minutes. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Rafi Reshef. Five with Rafi Reshef. Channel Ten. From the beginning to minute 3:19, from minute 23:52 to minute 25:30, and from minute 36:38 to minute 37:37. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813112016/http://10tv.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=1301444. dead.
- Web site: Lucy Aharish. Conversation of the day Season 3 Episode 70. Reshet. From minute 8:26 to minute 12:16. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Keshet 12. Israel Television News Company. The main edition news with Dana Weiss. From minute 11:32 to minute 12:48. 7 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- Web site: Eyal Cohen. The demands of the Panthers in the demonstration at the Ben Gurion Airport. Facebook. he. 10 August 2018. 13 August 2018.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled protester pushed to the ground by police. Ynetnews. Length 0:31 minutes. 16 October 2018. 23 November 2018.
- News: Amir Alon, Roi Rubinstein. Disabled protesters block train tracks, railway disruptions expected. Ynetnews. 20 November 2018. 23 November 2018.
- Web site: Constructive Criticism 2013. The Disabled Panthers blocked the railway for hours. Facebook. he. Length 11:02 minutes. 21 November 2017. 23 November 2018.
- Web site: Eyal Cohen. From now, it depends on you. Facebook. he. Length 3:05 minutes. 21 November 2018. 23 November 2018.
- Web site: The talk of the day with Lucy Aharish. We have to choose whether to buy medicine or pay bills. Facebook. he. Length 11:17 minutes. 21 November 2018. 24 November 2018. Aharish: I am frustrated more and more because I know that I may be in your situation. I know that I can reach your situation, and it frustrates me that no one sees you, and it frustrates me that the public representatives do not see you, and it frustrates me that our public representatives sit and look at disabled people and do not see them because you are transparent. It frustrates me because it is hypocritical. It frustrates me because you have contributed all your life. All your life you gave to the National Insurance Institute. And whoever looks at you, and all the MKs and the ministers who are sitting at home, should be ashamed when they look you in your eyes. (Her voice is choked with tears)..
- Web site: The Panther Graphic Studio. A notice of Eyal Cohen, the leader the Disabled Panthers, to the media. YouTube. he. Length 4:11 minutes. 26 November 2018. 27 November 2018. The message which the government tries to convey is that the disabled people signed and agreed to the agreement with the government. It has never happened. Only one organization welcomed the agreement, and upset the disabled people. There is no paper, signed by the disabled people. There are not signatures because there was no agreement. Over 16 years of no addition, the disabled got 1.4 billion ILS, although they advertised repeatedly that they added an amount of 4.3 billion ILS. In 2021 the disability pension would be only 3,700 ILS, in spite of the state law said that the minimum sum for living was the minimum wage which was 5,300 ILS today. Can a disabled or an elderly person live by 3.700 ILS? It is not today. It is in 2021! Today, disabled people are living by 3,200 ILS barely. Can a healthy person live with it? When you see us in our protest, please stand with us. Tomorrow, God forbid, it will be a part of you..
- Web site: Amir Alon. On the back of the disabled. Yedioth Ahronoth. he. 27 October 2019. 28 October 2019.
- News: Amir Alon. On the back of the disabled people: "Want to live, survive, exist". Ynet. he. 28 October 2019. 28 October 2019.
- News: Amir Alon. Disabled people protest: Azrieli Junction was blocked for 4 hours. Ynet. he. 31 October 2019. 31 October 2019.