Combat Veteran Itzik Saidian Urges Knesset to Prioritize Wounded Soldiers Over Torah Study

Combat veteran Itzik Saidian passionately addressed the Knesset committee debating the Basic Law on Torah Study, emphasizing the need to prioritize those who have fought and sacrificed in battle. Saidian argued that while Torah study and military service are important, the highest value should be given to the roughly 10% of the population who actually go into combat, face death, lose comrades, and endure physical and psychological wounds. He highlighted the reality of soldiers who have been on the front lines, lost parts of their bodies and mental health, and now feel forgotten by the state. Saidian called for a fundamental shift in societal values to honor and support these combat veterans above all else.