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Law for Those Who Assisted in Neutralising the Consequences of the Chernobyl Disaster, 5761-2001

חוק המסייעים לנטרול תוצאות אסון צ'רנוביל, התשס"א–2001

Published: 2001-06-14Last amended 2006-12-03✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-09
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Definitions§

1.

In this Law –

"the Chernobyl disaster" – the leak from the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl, Ukraine, which occurred in 1986;

"the representative organisation" – a body that the Minister has determined represents the largest number of neutralisers;

"the Committee" – the Committee for the Recognition of a Person as a Neutraliser, established under Section 3;

"neutraliser" – an Israeli citizen and resident of Israel who holds a neutraliser certificate received under the provisions of this Law;

"annual grant" – a grant paid under the provisions of Section 9;

"official certificate" – an official certificate of the Government of the former Soviet Union, or of the Governments of Ukraine, Russia or Belarus, attesting that its holder took an active part in operations to neutralise the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster;

"the Minister" – the Minister of Immigration and Absorption.

Entitlement to a Neutraliser Certificate§

2.

A person who has submitted an application therefor to the Committee and has satisfied it, to its satisfaction, of all of the following, is entitled to receive from the Committee a certificate attesting to his being a neutraliser (in this Law – a neutraliser certificate):

(1)he took an active part in operations to neutralise the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster;
(2)he holds an official certificate recognised by the Committee;
(3)he is an Israeli citizen and resident of Israel.

Committee for the Recognition of Neutralisers§

3.

The Minister shall appoint a committee of five members for the determination of recognition of neutralisers, and they are –

(1)a retired judge or a person qualified to serve as a judge of a District Court, who shall be the chairperson;
(2)a representative of the Prime Minister's Office;
(3)a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
(4)a representative of the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption;
(5)a neutraliser, who shall be elected by the representative organisation.

Functions of the Committee§

4.

The Committee shall carry out and coordinate all the operations required for the performance of the following functions:

(1)to determine whether the conditions set out in Section 2 for recognition as a neutraliser have been met in the applicant, and to notify the applicant of its decision;
(2)to grant a neutraliser certificate to a person recognised by it;
(3)to maintain a register of holders of neutraliser certificates.

Applications for Recognition as a Neutraliser§

5.
(a)A person seeking recognition from the Committee as a neutraliser shall submit an application to it in the manner prescribed by the Minister.
(b)The process of handling an application for recognition as a neutraliser shall continue for up to 120 days from the day on which the Committee received the application; the chairperson of the Committee may extend the said period in respect of a particular application, for special reasons.

Action§

6.

Where the Committee has not recognised a person as a neutraliser, that person may bring an action before the Regional Labour Court within six months of the date of the decision.

Medical Follow-Up§

7.
(a)The Minister of Health shall designate a hospital to serve as a medical centre for medical follow-up of neutralisers and their children (hereinafter – the medical centre); the medical follow-up shall be conducted in accordance with the recommendation of the physicians treating the neutralisers at the medical centre.
(b)The Minister of Health may designate additional medical centres for medical follow-up.

Housing§

8.
(a)A neutraliser who is entitled to a loan under the Housing Loans Law, 5752-1992 (hereinafter – the Housing Loans Law), is entitled to priority in a loan, including in the component of the standing loan, as defined in Section 6 of the Housing Loans Law, in accordance with the determination of the Minister of Construction and Housing, with the consent of the Minister of Finance and with the approval of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee of the Knesset; initial regulations as referred to in this subsection shall be brought for approval by the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee of the Knesset within two months of the commencement of this Law.
(b)A neutraliser who is entitled from the Ministry of Construction and Housing to assistance in the payment of rent is entitled to an addition at the rate of 10% of the amount of the assistance to which he would have been entitled but for this subsection.

Annual Grant§

9.
(a)A neutraliser is entitled to an annual grant in the amount of NIS 4,775.
(b)The amount of the annual grant shall be updated on 1 January of each year in accordance with the rate of increase of the consumer price index published by the Central Bureau of Statistics as against the index for the month of January of the preceding year, and for the purposes of the first update – from the index that was known on the 1st day of Tevet 5766 (1 January 2006).

Widower and Widow of a Neutraliser§

9a.

Where a neutraliser has died and an annual grant was being paid to him immediately before his death, the widower or widow at the time of his death shall be entitled to receive the annual grant for a period of three years from the date of his death.

Prevention of Duplication of Benefits§

10.

A neutraliser who is entitled to a benefit under the provisions of this Law and who, in respect of the same matter within the scope of the benefit, is also entitled to a benefit under any other law, is entitled to one benefit only, at the higher rate of the two.

Implementation and Regulations§

11.

The Minister is responsible for the implementation of this Law and may, with the approval of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee of the Knesset, make Regulations on any matter relating to its implementation, including the manner of registration of holders of neutraliser certificates by the Committee.

Transitional Provisions§

12.
(a)Israeli citizens and residents of Israel who, on the eve of the commencement of this Law, were recognised by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Approval of the Status of Chernobyl Neutralisers (hereinafter – the Inter-Ministerial Committee) as persons who took an active part in operations to neutralise the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, are entitled to receive a neutraliser certificate (in this Section – the initial certificates).
(b)Members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee that operated on the eve of the commencement of this Law shall be appointed as members of the Committee and shall grant the initial certificates.

Commencement and Application§

13.
(a)This Law shall come into force 30 days from the date of its publication (hereinafter – the commencement date).
(b)A neutraliser is entitled to a grant or a benefit in accordance with the provisions of this Law from the 1st of the month following the day on which he submitted the application to the Committee; however, a person who is entitled to receive an initial certificate as referred to in Section 12 is entitled to the said grant or benefit from the 1st of the month following the commencement date.

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LawImmigrationWelfare & Social Security

חוק המסייעים לנטרול תוצאות אסון צ'רנוביל, התשס"א–2001

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