Israel
By Shmuel Smith
YERUSHALAYIM -
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 12:18 pm | כ ד אייר תשפ א
IDF veterans in a protest for better rehabilitations services for wounded soldiers, outside the Knesset, Wednesday. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that the government has reached agreement on a plan to improve services for wounded IDF soldiers.
“After many efforts, we reached an agreement between the Prime Minister’s Office and defense and finance ministries, together with the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization, on a budget [for] reforming the Rehabilitation Department. Wounded IDF veterans are important and dear to us and an immediate and fundamental reform is needed to ensure the help that they deserve,” Netanyahu said in a statement from his office.
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Itzik Saidian Credit: Itzik Saidian s Facebook page
As the protest began, the head of the IDF Disabled Veterans Organization Idan Kleiman said, Not one of us went off to battle with a checkbook or a lawyer. We are demanding that a government meeting be called to find the means and the budget [to fund a rehabilitation program]. Kleiman added, We are not moving from this spot until the reform is enacted. We know very well what needs to be done. Only we can determine what we need and what is the best thing for us.
Protest comes as government approval of One Soul, the Defense Ministry plan to improve treatment for disabled ex-soldiers, is held up by fighting over funding
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel s military correspondent.
Plans to reform the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department to provide better care for wounded veterans came to a halt this week as political rivals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz fought over the source of funding for the NIS 350 million ($108 million) proposal.
Earlier this month, the Defense Ministry unveiled its plans to improve the treatment for wounded veterans, dubbed “One Soul,” which would entail internal changes of its protocols, as well as require government approvals and some new legislation.
The cabinet was due to discuss the proposal last week, but this was postponed due to a fight within the government over the illegal appointment of a justice minister. It was rescheduled to Sunday, but this was also delayed as the cabinet canceled its meeting out of respect for the 45 people who were killed in the Mount Meron disaster last week.
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel s military correspondent.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the swearing-in ceremony for the 24th Knesset, April 6, 2021. (Knesset spokesperson)
Plans to reform the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation Department to provide better care for wounded veterans came to a halt this week as political rivals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz fought over the source of funding for the NIS 350 million ($108 million) proposal.
Earlier this month, the Defense Ministry unveiled its plans to improve the treatment for wounded veterans, dubbed “One Soul,” which would entail internal changes of its protocols, as well as require government approvals and some new legislation.