Bereaved Mother Urges Support for Combat Veterans Amid Torah Study Law Debate

Einav Danino, mother of fallen paratrooper Uri Danino, spoke emotionally at a Knesset committee hearing on the Basic Law for Torah Study, highlighting the sacrifices of combat veterans. Uri Danino, 25, was kidnapped to Gaza on October 7, 2023, and later killed by Hamas militants in a tunnel near Rafah in August 2024. Einav credited these veterans with saving her son’s life and called for greater recognition and support for them, emphasizing the physical and psychological toll they endure.

During the session, which was broadcast live by ynet, Einav described the veterans’ suffering, noting that her son returned with 11 injuries and that many veterans bear deep trauma. She urged lawmakers to prioritize their needs and honor their service, warning against neglecting them in favor of other groups. She recounted how Uri selflessly rescued others regardless of their background and stressed the veterans’ ongoing struggles, calling for legal acknowledgment of their rights.

Combat veterans at the hearing confronted MK Yitzhak Goldknopf of United Torah Judaism, reminding him that Uri Danino was a fellow soldier and a religious Jew. Meanwhile, coalition parties continue negotiations over the controversial law’s wording, with Likud seeking amendments to include soldiers and fighters, while United Torah Judaism resists changes from the original first reading text. Coalition chairman MK Ofir Katz stated the law will not pass without provisions recognizing combat veterans’ rights. The debate reflects tensions between right-wing and ultra-Orthodox factions over balancing military service recognition and Torah study priorities.