September 26, 2005
The Israeli government has approved a proposal to award compensation to Arab victims of attacks carried out by Israeli militants. Under the scheme anyone wounded by a Jewish militant in an action undertaken against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be eligible for compensation from the National Insurance Institute. The move comes after an Israeli army deserter blew up a bus in the Arab Israeli town of Shafarm on 4 August, killing four people. The man wanted to protest against Israel's impending pullout from the Gaza Strip. Nearly two weeks later, an Israeli settler killed three Palestinians in the northern West Bank settlement of Shilo, again to protest the withdrawal. Arab victims have not been eligible for compensation as under the current law, only Israelis who fall victim to "an organization hostile to Israel" can receive government payouts. Parliament still has to approve the new scheme proposed by the cabinet.
