IDF reservists still waiting for compensation for Gaza conflict
On August 10, the government announced the establishment of a new fund to help reservist soldiers whose service had had a negative impact on their financial situation; with a formal announcement of the fund still pending, the army says it will be operational in two weeks.
It has been more than 3 months since the government announced the establishment of an aid fund for IDF reservists who served in Operation Protective Edge, but the money has yet to flow. But the good news for reservists is that the IDF guarantees that it will begin operate in two weeks' time.
On August 10, at the height of the Gaza operation, the government took the decision to instruct Defense Minister Mishe Ya'alon to establish a within the ministry "a foundation of recognition, assistance and compensation for the reservists who served in Protective Edge." A similar fund was set up at the close of previous military operations, such as the Second Lebanon War of 2006.
According to the decision, "the fund will deal with reservist soldiers who served in Protective Edge, from July 7, 2014 to August 28, 2014, with respects to, inter alia, economic harm incurred as a result of their participation in combat or due to a call-up for reserve duty at short notice, and as a sign of appreciation."
The fund has an allocated budget of 30 million shekels. During the operation in Gaza, more than 80,000 reservists were called up.
The main goal of the foundation is to assist reservist soldiers who are self-employed or business owners, many of whom suffered economically due to the receiving an emergency call-up (Order 8). But it is also designed for other cases of economic damage caused by the operation, students, those with families and more.
However, until now, almost two and half months after the operation ended, and more than three months since the decision was taken, the fund has not yet commenced operations. There has been no publication of the basic criteria for eligibility for compensation, nor has there been any disclosure of the mechanism by which the reservists will be compensated. Those who suffered financially due to reservist duty are still in the dark.
One such reservist is Gal, a 32-year-old teacher from Be'er Sheva who received an emergency Order 8.
"Last March, my girlfriend and I booked airline tickets for July 11, for our honeymoon in Georgia," says Gal, "but three days before the flight, I was called up by Order 8 for 46 days. We lost out on the trip and on 2,760 shekels."
In the months since, Gal has been trying to find out if he is entitled to compensation from the fund and how to claim, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
"In early September, the IDF Liaison also announced that the government would the fund in the near future, but to this day it has not been established," he says.
The Defense Ministry said in response that the IDF is responsible for the operation of the fund.
The IDF spokesman said: "In August, the Israeli government decided to establish an assistance fund for reservists, to compensate for financial loss or damage. This fund reimburses reservists who served three or more days of active reserve duty during Protective Edge, who are business owners whose income suffered, students, men with families and others."
The fund will begin operating in two weeks, when the IDF receives the money for the fund, and its policy, which is in the final stages of being drawn up, is completed. Once the fund becomes operational, the criteria for recipients will be published in various media, sent via text message and posted on reservists' websites.
"The IDF thanks and appreciates the reservists, and is working to disseminate information about the fund out of a desire to bring it to the attention of all those reservists who are entitled to compensation," the army said.
