Yulia Malinovsky
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Bill to grant discharged lone soldiers NIS 12k progresses
Ministers approve a bill to pay lone soldiers NIS 1k per month for their first year after discharge, supported by Ministry of Defense; MK Yulia Malinovsky: 'It is morally incumbent upon us to take care of lone soldiers.'
Lone soldiers will receive an additional grant of NIS 1,000 per month for the first 12 months after they are discharged from the IDF, according to a bill approved Monday by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation that now awaits parliamentary approval.
The bill was presented by MK Yulia Malinovsky (Yisrael Beytenu) and the chairman of the Caucus for Lone Soldiers, MK Itzik Shmuli (Zionist Union). It is also supported by Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beytenu) and his ministry. The grant would be in addition to all currently existing grants and rights.
Avigdor Lieberman with lone soldiers over Sukkot (Photo: Ministry of Defense)
Malinovsky said that the law's catalyst was the petitions submitted by many discharged lone soldiers who were finding it difficult to subsist without financial assistance. "It is morally incumbent upon us to take care of lone soldiers who served in the IDF and who want to live here," she said.
Her cohort Shmuli added, "This is a great achievement that will help the lone soldiers stand on their feet for the first period" after their army service.
The IDF provides special assistance to some 6,000 lone soldiers serving in the army each year. The average aid is between NIS 2,600 and 3,500 per month. Most of this ceases at the end of their service, resulting in many facing a reality of economic concern for their livelihoods.
