On Sunday this week, Israel marked the day of honor for the wounded of Israel's systems and hostilities.
This is an important day, which began as an activity of the Bnei Akiva movement and in recent years has received state recognition.
The main event of the recognition day took place on Sunday evening at the Tel Aviv Exhibition Center, in the presence of Defense Minister Bnei Gantz, Minister of Welfare Meir Cohen, Chief of Staff Major General Aviv Kochavi, Director General of the Ministry of Defense Amir Eshel, Chairman of the IDF Disabled Organization Idan Kliman and Chairman of the Association of Victims of Hostilities Ivy Mozes. And who was not invited to the event honoring the wounded in the Israeli systems and hostilities? Victims of hostilities.
While thousands of IDF disabled people attended the event, including quite a few who tore a ligament during a football game or were injured in a car accident regardless of their military service, we were not invited at all. We were forgotten. We are not part. We are not cherished. Including the victims of hostilities without the victims themselves, us, who paid a heavy price just because we are Jews and Israelis, do not share this important day.
I was seriously injured in a terrorist attack in Sinai in 2004. The Egyptians did not take care of the evacuation of the wounded and even tried to prevent the evacuation.
Egyptian soldiers punctured the wheels of the vehicle that evacuated me to the border, where Israeli ambulances were waiting.
I reached the border after a very long time of three hours from the moment the car bomb exploded on the beach.
Fortunately, I survived, much thanks to the resourcefulness of the Israelis who were there.
But I am not considered, I am not part of the day of appreciation.
So are my other comrades, victims of hostilities.
I point the finger of blame at the organization of victims of hostilities. This is the organization that is supposed to take care of us. I turned to his representatives and asked how the victims of the hostilities are not part of the main tribute event. Their answer: This is an event of an IDF organization for the disabled, and only ten tickets were allocated to the organization of victims of hostilities. The tickets were given to members of the organization's committee.
This is a very problematic answer. The headline of the publication of the event is: "The wounded of the Israeli systems and hostilities are honored." The logo of the Organization of Victims of Hostilities is hoisted above the advertisement, along with the logo of the IDF Disabled Organization and the emblem of the State of Israel. The chairman of the organization is participating in the event. So how can it be that only ten tickets have been allocated to all victims of hostilities? If this is true, it indicates the weakness of the organization. If the one who is supposed to take care of us does not do so, then what do we have that Nelin? The organization needs to work for us and for us. Even so, the victims of hostilities are type B compared to IDF disabled people. We are not considered part of Israel's systems, even though terrorism is part of our war for the state and our identity. Wounded to wounded, between blood and blood. The same goes for "Memorial Day for the Martyrs of the Israeli Armed Forces and the Victims of Hostilities."
In light of this problematic situation, I decided to take an extreme step and retire from membership in the organization, and stop paying membership fees.
I can not be part of an organization that does not work for me and my friends.
A day of recognition in which victims of hostilities do not take part is a certificate of poverty for the organization.
I will happily return when things change, when we become an integral part.
At the moment the situation is very problematic.