Adult IDF orphans demand recognition
Defense Ministry does not recognize organization representing some 9,000 fallen soldiers' orphans over age of 21. Group petitions court, says 'this injustice must be corrected. Grownup orphans have special needs and hardships'
The Israeli Military and Secret Services Orphans' Organization filed a petition Thursday with the Tel Aviv District Court, demanding that the court order the Ministry of Defense and the defense minister to recognize them as an official organization.
According to the non-profit organization, the State of Israel does not recognize IDF orphans above the age of 21 as a group in relation to other bereaved families, something they see as discrimination.
The petition claims that the under the current law, an IDF orphan is defined as someone under the age of 21. The IDF Widows and Orphans Organization accepts members based on this definition only as defined by the law, such that orphans above the age of 21 are not represented whatsoever by bereavement organizations recognized by the Ministry of Defense.
At this time there are some 9,000 such orphans in Israel.
The organization has made an official appeal to the court requesting that it be allowed to officially represent adult orphans: "Not having a father accompanies the orphan his entire life. This is a wound that never heals. Various points in the orphan's life are recognized as crises, such as the marriage ceremony, having children, the point at which the orphan passes the age of his father, and other such events."
The petition also noted that "In fact, the lack of a father figure creates crises mainly in a person's adult life, and not in his childhood. Aside from these emotional crises, there are more than a few cases in which adults encounter some sort of plight in their lives and receive help from their parents.
"In such instances, the orphan does not always have an address to turn to for help. It is clear that the population of adult orphans needs a recognized umbrella organization to help it and coordinate its affairs."
The petition also claimed that bereaved parents and widows were eligible for a list of benefits, including education, psychological treatment, professional training, and various economic allowances throughout their lives. These benefits are limited to IDF orphans under the age of 30.
One of the lawyers submitting the petition, Attorney Ilan Yonash, said that "this is a kind of systemic glitch that has not been taken care of for all these years. We are merely asking that this injustice be corrected and that the organization be recognized so that it may represent adult orphans, who have special needs and not-so-simple hardships."
Adi Caspi, chairwoman of the organization, said broad support among government ministers for officially recognizing the organization has been seen in the past year. However, according to her, the Ministry of Defense refuses to recognize the group.
