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February 14, 2006
OU President
Raises Plight of Gaza Evacuees with Ehud Olmert; Asks to Have
all Pending Compensation Claims Resolved; Olmert: ‘We Will Do
Everything We Can’
In Jerusalem today,
Orthodox Union President Stephen J. Savitsky raised with Acting
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert the plight of Israelis who had been
evacuated from Gaza communities last summer but whose lives
remain unsettled. Mr. Savitsky was part of a delegation of the
/Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish
Organizations/ addressed by Mr. Olmert today.
Building on the OU's previous efforts in support of the
evacuees'
welfare, Mr. Savitsky cited yet another news report, published
today in the Jerusalem Post, which profiled a representative
sampling of relocated families, half of whom have yet to receive
compensation payments promised by the government beyond an
initial installment which was ordered by court action.
After citing the report, Mr. Savitsky noted:
"It is now six months after the evacuation. For the sake of
uniting the Jewish people, will you see to it that these
citizens' needs are taken care of?"
In response, Acting Prime Minister Olmert stated (in part):
"I absolutely understand what the people have been through. I
supported the pullout....but I understood how painful and
difficult it will be...
In general, the Israeli government has been generous, but I am
also aware of those who are not settled properly...*We will do
everything we can to complete their being settled as soon as
possible...We will see to it that not one Israeli citizen will
have to bear the wounds for much
longer."
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