There are about 240,000 Holocaust survivors in Israel. There is concern that they are living in poverty. The Israeli government planned to give the survivors $20 a month. The survivors laughed in their faces, and now the government will revise their plan.

The survivors undoubtedly experienced much trauma and hardship during the Holocaust, but the purpose of the Israeli plan is to help with the poverty, not give reparations for all of the hurt caused to Jews.

$20 is equivalent to about 83 shekels (Israeli currency). Palestinians in the occupied territories also use shekels. What can a shekel buy you? Just a few shekels can buy you a whole hot meal. 83 shekels can buy a meal a day for an entire month. There are Palestinian families, including children, passing each day with just one meal. Some don't eat every day.

The rate of poverty among the Palestinians outweighs that of the Israelis. Most Holocaust survivors are senior citizens now. For an elder Israeli who does not have children to support, saying the 83 shekels a month isn't good enough is a slap in the face to Palestinians struggling to feed their children. How can the Israelis be so selfish?

The Israelis should appreciate the effort being made to help them, and should remember that things can always be worse... Think about the families that have NO money and the children that are starving, while you ask for MORE money.