The Joint Arab List has been assigned the temporary Knesset Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee – a committee whose responsibilities include a number of security-related matters having to do with the treatment of wounded Israel Defense Forces veterans and victims of terrorism.
In recent years, the committee – in its permanent configuration – has overseen the regulation of compensation for wounded IDF soldiers and veterans; as well as medical and income benefits for IDF soldiers, members of the Israel Police, and the Israeli Prison Service. The committee also oversees pension funds and savings plans for government institutions into which pension money for everyone who serves in the IDF and Israel's other security branches is deposited.
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The committee also has the authority to revoke national insurance benefits and other stipends from convicted terrorists and their families.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision to entrust the work of the committee to representatives of the Joint Arab List a "disgrace."
Meir Indor, head of the Almagor organization, which advocates for victims of terrorism and their families, said, "This is a dark day for victims of terrorism."
Officials in Blue and White dismissed these concerns as a tempest in a teacup and said that the temporary welfare committee would only operate until a government was formed and would only handle urgent matters, particularly pertaining to the effects of the coronavirus crisis on the workforce and Israel's weaker socio-economic sectors.
According to Blue and White, the temporary committee would not be advancing amendments to any legislation.
The decision to establish the temporary committee was made overnight Monday by the Knesset Arrangements Committee, which is chaired by MK Avi Nissankoren of Blue and White. On Tuesday, the Knesset plenum voted overwhelmingly to approve the temporary Labor, Welfare, and Health Committee.
