Israel

Israel operates a program to provide financial compensation for victims of terrorism and does not currently have a program for compensating victims of violent or personal crime.

Eligibility Requirements

Report to police. Yes; usually within 1 year of the terrorist act.

Filing period. Usually within 1 year of the terrorist act. Although the failure to file within 1 year may not prevent eligibility, it does increase the investigation time and decreases the likelihood of fair compensation.

Foreign citizen eligibility. Citizens of foreign countries who are victims of terrorism are eligible to apply for compensation if they were legally staying in Israel at the time of the incident and are not members of illegal organizations or hostile countries.

Claimants

Procedures

Application forms are available from any branch of the National Insurance Institute (NII). The victim must file an application with the NII Department for Victims of Hostilities. In practice, those hospitalized will receive and complete forms with assistance from the hospital social worker. Citizens of foreign countries should submit the application before leaving Israel; however, the application may also be processed abroad via the nearest Israeli embassy or consulate. The length of time for review and notification of NII's decision varies depending on the case facts. It can take as little as a few weeks or, in cases where permanent disability must be determined, many months. NII does not award permanent disability until an applicant's condition is stable (no significant further improvement can be expected).

Benefits and Award Limits

Compensation amounts are case specific. The maximum award for funeral expenses is NIS7,000 unless the victim is a citizen of a foreign country and is to be buried abroad. In that case, NII will arrange for transporting the body to the family's place of residence and will reimburse burial expenses up to NIS995 based on receipts.

A widow's benefit of NIS4,400 is also available, as is a bereavement benefit of NIS6,150, which is intended to cover the expenses incurred while sitting shiva (the 7-day mourning period observed by members of the Jewish faith).

Compensable costs

Emergency awards. Emergency or expedited claims are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Funding sources. The program is funded by the National Insurance Institute.

Contact Information

National Insurance Institute of Israel (Israel's NII Head Office)
Department for Victims of Hostilities, 13 Weizmann Blvd., 91909 Jerusalem
Telephone: 972-2-646-3223
Fax: 972-2-538-2417
Internet: www.gov.il/firstgov/english (in English)

Languages used—
• On application forms: Hebrew (available soon in English)
• In correspondence: English, Hebrew
• By telephone: English, Hebrew

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