Knesset Advances Groundbreaking Combat Stress Law to Support Veterans

The Knesset Committee approved the second and third readings of a pioneering bill initiated by MK Yitzhak Kroizer to formally define and address combat stress, known as "battle shock." This legislation officially recognizes combat stress as a trauma response resulting from operational activity, military training, or other service-related events. Under the new law, the Ministry of Defense's Disabled Rehabilitation Department will be required to provide personalized treatment tailored to each veteran's specific mental health condition.

A key feature of the bill is the establishment of a statutory committee led by a retired judge, empowered to grant humanitarian aid beyond standard regulations in exceptional cases. This assistance can also extend to family members of veterans suffering from mental disabilities or severe head injuries with a disability rating of 35% or higher, or those with 100% disability, who face significant hardship due to their relative's condition.

To ensure parliamentary oversight and transparency, the law mandates detailed annual reporting to the Knesset's Labor and Welfare Committee and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee regarding the committee's activities and the quality of care provided.

MK Yitzhak Kroizer emphasized the moral obligation to support soldiers fighting on the front lines, stating, "Mental injury is an invisible, complex, and painful wound." He hailed the law as historic justice that not only defines combat stress but also guarantees tailored rehabilitation and humanitarian safety nets for veterans and their families. Kroizer pledged to complete the legislative process in the Knesset plenum to enshrine the bill into Israeli law.