Court Reinstates Benefits for Partner of Nova Victim After National Insurance Dispute

A regional labor court in Tel Aviv has ruled that Karin Guez will be recognized as the common-law partner of Shachar Ben Naim, who was murdered at the Nova music festival on October 7. The National Insurance Institute had previously revoked Guez's benefits, arguing the couple was separated at the time of the attack and not maintaining a shared household.

The legal battle centered on the couple's final months together, which included postponing their wedding, living separately, and experiencing periods of estrangement. Guez, who was pregnant at the time of the murder and later gave birth to their daughter, contended that these were temporary crises within a committed relationship and that Ben Naim still considered himself part of their family.

Judge Tomer Silora stated that the court's role was not to define an "ideal relationship" but to assess the reality of their situation. The court found that the couple managed a shared household in a modern sense, divided expenses, and had lived together for extended periods. Guez's pregnancy and Ben Naim's commitment to their unborn child were highlighted as factors strengthening the argument that the estrangement before October 7 was brief.

Ultimately, the court determined that Guez had sufficiently proven her status, albeit "barely," entitling her to benefits under the Law for the Compensation of Victims of Hostile Actions. The court emphasized the law's social purpose, granting Guez the benefit of the doubt in this tragic circumstance. The National Insurance Institute, which had initially denied her benefits, will now pay her the monthly allowance.