Against the background of the relatively low rate of stabilization for the reserves, which averaged about 70% in the past year, the defense establishment presented today (Sunday) a series of benefits defined as "dramatic" for active reservists, while allocating about NIS 200 million a year for the move – 15 times what has been allocated to benefits for reservists so far. Defense Minister Yoav Galant called it "correcting a historic injustice."
"Correction of historical injustice". Reservists in operational activity (archive), photo: Report
The benefits will soon be submitted for approval by the Ministerial Committee on the Reserve Service, and for the first time they will be allocated not only to reserve commanders, but to about 130,5 active servants. Among other things, as part of the budget devoted to benefits, the Arnona tax discount rate will increase from 15% to 10% for all active reservists, as well as a 1% discount on electricity bill payments, and for those serving who perform five days of reserve duty or more in July-August, a discount of NIS 500,16 will be granted to a family with children up to age <> for subsidizing summer camps.
The new benefits will be eligible for reservists who perform 14 days of reserve duty per year, or 75% of that if they are reservists.
Alongside these benefits, the budget of the Ba-Salute Club will be doubled from NIS 16 million per year to NIS 32 million. The budget will enable the Department and the Veterans Fund in the Ministry of Defense to significantly expand B'Salute's activities, and to add discounts and unique benefits for reservists, after no additions to the organization's budget were recorded since 2010.
The percentage of reservists began to decline even before the demonstrations against the reform. "Brothers in Arms" (archive), photo: Brothers in Arms reservists protest
The defense establishment promises that in the future, a series of additional benefits will be submitted to the government for approval in cooperation with other government ministries, in the fields of education, culture and sports, housing and construction, and more.
"Bringing a historic decision"
Defense Minister Yoav Galant said: "This morning we are submitting a historic decision for the sake of the reserve system. The reservists are a team that represents the people of Israel, both in wars and in the periods in between, and for this we must reward them accordingly.
"Our recognition as a state of those who serve and sacrifice more of themselves is the correction of a historical injustice. We are doubling the budget dedicated to those who serve 15-fold, and adding benefits that are significant for every home in Israel."
According to him, "Reservists are a unique asset and play a decisive role in our security perception and in the IDF's ability to fulfill its mission."
As we revealed in Israel Hayom a few months ago, the percentage of reservists, mainly for training, has been very low in recent months, even before the public struggle over the legal reform, with reports that we have received indicate that there were also training sessions in which only about 50% of the reservists summoned reported for training.
There were also training exercises in which only about 50% of the reservists summoned reported to them.Reservists training near the Gaza Strip (archive), photo: AFP
In a conversation with reporters about the series of benefits for reservists, the head of the ACA, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, admitted that "there is a challenge" and that the average stabilization rate of reservists is about 70%. According to him, "in the IAI [operational employment] the ranks are full." "We have challenges there, but in the past month there has been an increase in reporting for reserve duty as a kind of vote of confidence in light of what we see in society."
It is important to note that 95% of the reservists' reporting in the past month also came against the background of the operation in Gaza against Islamic Jihad.
Only 7%
The head of the IAEA also noted that only 7% of the population in Israel of the relevant ages serves in the reserves. "They carry the security of the state on their shoulders. The value of service in the IDF, including the value of combat service and the value of reserve service, are values that the state should put on its head. The essence of the program is to honor and reward those who serve in the reserves."
According to him, the program is the result of a survey conducted among reservists in 2022, in which the reservists noted that there is a decline in their sense of necessity after not being used in recent wars, especially since they do not feel valued by the state, and this is reflected in the lack of sufficient remuneration and recognition.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us