New Bill Prioritizes Military Service Over Draft Dodgers
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Naftali Bennett's "Achva" party has submitted its first bill to the Knesset, the "Servicemembers Law," aiming to prioritize those who serve in the military. The proposal offers significant benefits to active reservists, including monthly daycare stipends and discounts on utilities and transportation. It also expands tuition funding for discharged soldiers. Bennett stated the funding would be reallocated from households not participating in service or employment.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Naftali Bennett's "Achva" party proposed the "Servicemembers Law" to prioritize military service.
- Active reservists would receive NIS 4,000 monthly for daycare under the proposed law.
- Reservists would also get 50% discounts on utilities, arnona, public transport, and state fees.
- The bill expands tuition funding for all discharged soldiers and offers first-time aid to non-combatants.
- Bennett stated funding would be reallocated from non-serving and non-employed households.
The "Achva" party, led by Naftali Bennett, has introduced its first bill to the 26th Knesset, titled the "Servicemembers Law." The party described the legislation as aiming to "invert the pyramid and prioritize those who serve over those who evade service." The proposed law would provide significant financial benefits to active reservists. Under the bill, the state would fund daycare or family daycare for each active reservist at NIS 4,000 per month. Additionally, active reservists would receive a 50% discount on electricity, water, and municipal property taxes (arnona). Public transportation and state fees would also be reduced by 50%. The bill further empowers the government to offer reservists a discount on their first home purchase.
The legislation also expands financial support for discharged soldiers. The "Dimensions for Studies" fund, which covers tuition, will be extended to five years for all discharged soldiers, and to six years for those in engineering, medicine, and architecture, allowing for master's degrees to be funded. For the first time, discharged soldiers who were not combatants will receive funding for half of their tuition fees.
Bennett explained that the funding for these benefits would come from reallocating resources by altering criteria and halting funds currently provided to households that do not participate in service and employment. "Our principles are clear, and we have been acting on them from the first moment," Bennett stated. "The bill we submitted upon the Knesset's swearing-in emphasizes our intentions: to invert the pyramid and place those who serve at the top of the national priority list." He added, "Our reward for those serving in the regular army and reserves is a clear message to them and their families: we are committed to you."
Eitan Ginzburg, Chairman of the "Achva" faction, commented, "We made a commitment to the public, and now we are beginning to fulfill it and fix the country. The money will go to those who serve, and we are practically placing them at the top of the country's priority pyramid. Together, we will advance this bill until we achieve the necessary correction."
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