Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs

The Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs- Description
Composition of the Authority Committee
Recognition Procedures as a "Prisoner of Zion" and Receiving Reparations
Statistical Data

Process for Applying for Recognition as Prisoner of Zion

The Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs- Description

In accordance with the Law of Reparations to Prisoners of Zion and their Families, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration operates the Authority for Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs.
The Authority documents the activities of Prisoners of Zion and perpetuates the memories of Martyrs.
The Authority also holds an annual national ceremony for all Prisoners of Zion and their families, as well as families of Martyrs.

The Law of Reparations to Prisoners of Zion and their Families -5753-1992 (hereafter referred to as "the Law") defines a "Prisoner of Zion" as an individual who is a citizen and resident of Israel who meets one of the following conditions:

• Arrested/imprisoned/exiled for at least 6 months because of Zionist activities in a country in which such activities are forbidden. 
• Arrested/imprisoned/exiled for at least 6 months in an enemy country because of being Jewish or because of hostile relations of that country towards Israel. 
• Arrested/imprisoned/exiled because of any of the aforementioned reasons, has disappeared, and six months have passed since the arrest (and the Law of Return applies to this individual). 
• Was a resident of Eretz Yisrael prior to the establishment of the State, and because of activities during the period of the establishment of the State was arrested/imprisoned/exiled for at least 6 months.

The Law Defines a "Martyr" as any One of the Following:

• An individual executed/murdered by the government of a foreign country because of Zionist activities. 
• An individual executed/murdered in an enemy country, by the government of that country or by a hostile organization, because of their ties to Israel, or because of being Jewish, or because of hostile relations of that country towards Israel.

Composition of the Authority Committee 

The Authority for Prisoners of Zion is made up of 4 committees to which candidates can apply:
 
Committee for Immigrants from Eastern Europe 
Committee for Immigrants from Ethiopia  
Committee for Israeli Underground Fighters 
Committee for Immigrants from Muslim Countries

The Minister of Aliyah and Integration, in consultation with the Minister of Social Affairs, appoints the members of the Authority committees and Appeals committees.

Recognition Procedures as a "Prisoner of Zion" and Receiving Reparations 

The Authority is empowered to recognize or deny recognition to an applicant as a "Prisoner of Zion," and serves Prisoners of Zion and their families, as well as relatives of Martyrs, with no connection to their period of eligibility with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.

A candidate whose application is denied by the Authority/appeals committee can apply to an additional committee; within 90 days they may apply to the Appeals Committee for Prisoners of Zion that operates within the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration.
Once an application is authorized, documents are forwarded to the National Insurance Institute in order to determine the amount of reparations payments in accordance with National Insurance regulations. 
The National Insurance Institute assesses eligibility for reparations. Not every Prisoner of Zion is eligible for reparations.

Statistical Data

(Correct as of 1/5/2016)
A total of 3,313 Prisoners of Zion and Martyrs have been recognized.

2,059 persons have died or were recognized as Martyrs.

Process for Applying for Recognition as Prisoner of Zion 

A candidate for recognition as a Prisoner of Zion must submit a special form that includes, among other things, the details of imprisonment, arrest, or exile, and a declaration of the resulting illnesses caused by their imprisonment. 

1. Claims form for recognition/reparations.
2. Explanatory letter about filling out the form and attaching relevant documents.
3. Declaration to witnesses.

An applicant can be represented by an attorney if they prefer. 

The Authority is authorized to collect information about the candidate from the relevant sources, such as the Prime Minister's Bureau, the Jewish Agency, immigrant and Prisoners-of-Zion organizations and other recognized bodies that operated in the same area.

The Authority is authorized to request that the candidate complete the material submitted to the Committee. 
The Authority is authorized to utilize any information it receives for recognizing the candidate. 
 
During the meeting, the candidate and the witnesses present their testimony and answer committee-members' questions.  The testimonies are transcribed. At the conclusion of the meeting the decision is written and signed by the committee members; the decision is then forwarded to the applicant. 
When an applicant is recognized as a Prisoner of Zion, the written decision is accompanied by a Prisoner of Zion Certificate.  The letter and documents are also forwarded to the National Insurance Institute to continue the process of receiving reparations. 
If an application is rejected, the candidate can apply to the Appeals Committee (in accordance with the Law). 
The procedure for applying to the Appeals Committee and the deliberations of the Committee are similar to that of the application procedure to the Authority.   
If the Appeals Committee denies an application, the candidate can take their case to an Administrative Affairs Court.