Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, permit me to assure you that the State of Israel attributes great importance to the outcome of the Second World Assembly.

Mr. Chairman,

We live in an era in which the aging of the world's population is an incontrovertible fact. A common denominator of diverse peoples living in different regions is the growing number of aged in the society, particularly among the "oldest elderly" - i.e., over the age of 80. This is obviously increasing the support burden on the primary caregivers and raises the concern as to how we should address the needs of the elderly.

We face two major challenges: on the one hand, how to deal with the exceptional levels of aging that are becoming common in the developed world; and, on the other hand, how the developing world can find a way to face these challenges that is suited to its own cultural, economic, and social circumstances. Can the evolution of services in the developed countries be a model for developing countries? Indeed, can the developed world be a model even for itself as it strives to address the future?

If one looks at policies in the developed world, five major points emerge:

Point 1.
There is a tremendous lack of knowledge among the public at large, and even among professionals who care for the elderly, about aging and about the appropriate care of the elderly.

Point 2.
Society has not sufficiently recognized many of the factors that could be used to prevent disability. It has also failed to integrate social and medical models effectively with respect to understanding and reducing dependency.

Point 3.
Different countries display a huge diversity in their approach to the care of the elderly.

Point 4.
Due to broad discontent, there have been many efforts to change systems at the national level. While many of these reforms have common elements, a unified model is yet to emerge.

Point 5.
In some countries, the most dramatic change has occurred at the local level. This teaches us an important lesson: systems are capable of change.

Mr. Chairman,

The following nine principles guide the development of policy relating to the aged in Israel.

The first principle is about promoting independence and autonomy.

The elderly are most independent when they live in a non-restrictive environment. If possible, they should be allowed to remain in their own homes. The physical design of the environment is also an important element, whether it be the design of the home environment or an institution. In either case, there should be ample physical access to community services.

Another way to enhance independence and autonomy is by empowering the consumer. This includes the right to information, participation of the elderly in decision-making about their health and care, and the right to make decisions about a living will and end-of-life issues.

A third aspect of independence and autonomy involves the right to participation and representation, including the right to an independent voice on communal and national policy issues.

The second principle in Israeli aging policy concerns promoting opportunities to maintain active roles in society. Ways to achieve this are to allow a flexible retirement age, to adapt the workplace to the abilities and needs of the elderly, to encourage and support formal and informal volunteer activities, and to continue educational opportunities at all ages.

The third principle relates to promoting equality among the elderly. This is accomplished on one level by working to reduce disparity between the poor and the well-to-do through progressive financing and eligibility mechanisms. On another level, regional and inter-group equity is achieved by ensuring equal access to services in different parts of the country and among various population groups.

An adequate standard of living in old age is the concern of the fourth principle. Israeli policy attempts to ensure adequate minimum income levels, adequate pension coverage and access to services.

The fifth principle encourages the maintenance of inter-generational partnership and mutual responsibility, by reaffirming the partnership that exists between the elderly, the family, the community, and the state. It is important also to support programs that build patterns of intergenerational contact and mutual support. Attention must be paid to intergenerational equity in the allocation of resources: how we view the elderly is revealed by how we allocate resources from one generation to another. Other elements of policy include encouraging children to be responsible for financing the care of the elderly, and using the media to change negative attitudes and stereotypes toward the elderly and aging.

The sixth principle involves ensuring appropriate and effective delivery of services. This includes access to general health care services as well as social services; organizing services to facilitate the coordination and integration of comprehensive care; providing cost-effective care; and establishing clear and appropriate standards and effective quality assurance and regulatory mechanisms.

The seventh principle is about the prevention of age discrimination. This can be accomplished by prohibiting age-based discrimination in employment for persons age 50 and over, and upholding the right to an established institution that protects the rights of the elderly, such as an ombudsperson.

The eighth principle concerns providing non-discriminatory health care, specifically protecting against age discrimination in health care, and providing incentives against cream-skimming in health insurance.

The ninth principle could be called the "gerontolization" of the professionals. This means the right to be treated by informed medical professionals having updated knowledge among professionals who deal with all age groups, and those specializing in treating the elderly.

The attempt to realize these principles is an ongoing struggle. While the efforts of Israeli society are reflected in the various chapters of the report, I would like to mention some of the major developments in Israel in this field in recent years.

1. The recognition that elderly people need more health services led to the introduction of a capitation formula, weighted by age, through the National Health Insurance Law, as an incentive to health providers to address the needs of the elderly.

2. Mandatory retirement age for women was extended from 60 to 65.

3. Women became eligible for pensions, independent of their spouses, even if they never worked outside the home.

4. The Community Long-term Care Insurance Law significantly increased community services; and there has also been an appreciable rise in day-care services and innovative services such as supportive communities.

5. A major effort is being made to enhance quality by developing effective regulatory assurance mechanisms.

6. Services have become more equally accessible to various populations and regions - in particular, efforts have been made in the past decade to expand services to the growing Arab elderly population.

7. Services have been adapted for different cultures - for example, for immigrants from Ethiopia and the former Soviet Union and for the Arab population.

8. There has been an expansion of professional and academic training and research in gerontology.

Despite these efforts, much remains to be accomplished in order to realize the principles that guide aging policy. It is the obligation of all the forces in society - the government, civil society, the private sector, and the family - to pursue the implementation of these principles.

Mr. Chairman,

This important gathering has set for itself the noble goal of addressing the needs of the elderly and providing for the future realities which will be faced by senior citizens around the world. We must not permit this gathering - like so many other international conferences before it that sought to further important goals for all mankind - to be hijacked by those with a narrow and hostile political agenda. Like Durban and other assemblies which were convened for noble purposes, there is a danger that those who espouse hatred and terror will steer with misinformation, to put it mildly, this assembly into undesirable and counterproductive waters that will certainly not serve the needs of those whom this assembly is intended to serve.

Those who use this podium to attack Israel instead of focusing on the real issues of this assembly, could and should ask themselves what have their own countries done to further the needs of their aging populations as well as other parts of their society, instead of wasting their resources and energies on policies that are based on hatred and violence against Israel. How much more could be achieved if all nations of the Middle East together - Israelis, Palestinians, and all Arab countries - worked together for the benefit of all the region's citizens, and in the case of this assembly, for the sake of all the region's elderly?

We must also remember that the perpetrators of vicious acts of terrorism, and especially those who have targeted innocent civilians with suicide bombers, have claimed victims among the elderly. Among the over 400 Israeli civilians who were murdered at the hands of ruthless killers, more than 50 were Israelis over the age of 60. Last month alone, terrorism claimed the lives of 25 elderly Israeli citizens, some of them survivors of the Holocaust some 60 years ago. In the recent heinous Passover Massacre in Netanya, people like Ernest and Eva Weiss, Marianne Lehmann Zaoui lost their lives instead of enjoying their golden years with their families. How can anyone even begin to justify that? In such a gathering like this, and indeed nowhere in the world, should their murderous criminal approach be given any legitimacy whatsoever.

Mr. Chairman,

I would like to conclude my statement with a saying from the Talmud which could serve as fitting motto for this gathering: Thou should respect and venerate thy elders.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.