Ensuring procreation (illustration)
צילום: איי פי
Gears of war: Soldiers sign biological wills
Dozens of IDF servicemen drafted to fight in Israeli offensive in Gaza said to sign bio-wills meant to allow wives, surviving families to use their sperm to have children should they be killed
The New Family advocacy organization has reported that dozens of IDF reservists, drafted to fight in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, have approached the group asking to sign a biological will.
According to the New Family manifest, a biological will is an innovative legal document which men can use to leave specific instructions to their spouses or families, as to what to what should happen with their sperm in the event of their death.
Many who sign the will use it in order to ensure their sperm – through a donations deposited in the sperm bank or through posthumous harvest – could be used to father children.
The majority of the applicants, said New Family, are single young men in committed relationships, or newlyweds who have yet to start a family.
Not taking any chances. IDF troops in Gaza (Photo: AP)
Following the rise in applications, Attorney Irit Rosenblum, who head the organization said she would appeal to Attorney General Menachem Mazuz and to the IDF's chief reserve corps officer, and ask they suggest all IDF soldiers sign a biological will.
A biological will, she said, is as legally binding as any other will and testament, and so far more than 500 people have signed them.
The will is drawn up by one of the New Family attorneys and must be witnessed by two people. In order to implements it, she added, one must seek the approval of the Family Court.
"I just got married," said N., who received emergency draft order several days ago. "We don’t have children yet and I'm concerned that my fertility might be hurt… if the worst happens and I get killed I want to make sure I have children."
Kobi, 35, is an artillery officer – a reservist. "When the war broke my wife and talked about the possibility that I might get hurt. My wife said she wanted us to have another child… and I want to make sure she would be able to do that if something happens to me, so I’ll be signing a will in the next few days."
For more on biological wills: [email protected]
