Israeli Golani Fighter Battles Bureaucracy to Secure Land for Veterans

Itamar Hayon, a Golani Brigade commando who survived intense combat in the Gaza Strip and witnessed the horrors of the October conflict, has launched a personal campaign against Israeli bureaucracy to secure land for discharged soldiers. After returning from 70 consecutive days of fighting in Gaza, Hayon was struck by the harsh reality that despite risking his life for his country, he did not have a home of his own. This realization sparked his activism to help thousands of veterans who, like him, have no permanent housing.

Hayon’s journey began in Haifa, where he grew up and served in the elite Golani Brigade. His life took a tragic turn in 2014 when his close friend and fellow soldier Hadar Goldin was kidnapped during Operation Protective Edge. Struggling with trauma, Hayon fled to the United States for four years, achieving business success but feeling disconnected from his roots. He eventually returned to Israel, married, and became a father, but also experienced a painful divorce that taught him the importance of building an "inner home" before a physical one.

During the recent Iron Swords war, Hayon was called up for reserve duty and faced unimaginable scenes in Gaza, including the death of comrades. To cope, he wrote extensively in a notebook, channeling his pain into resilience. Witnessing fellow soldiers without permanent homes, he realized the systemic neglect of veterans’ basic needs. This led him to found the "Homes for Fighters" initiative, advocating for the allocation of small plots of land in the Negev, Galilee, or border areas where veterans can establish a base, even if just a tent or caravan, with official land ownership.

Hayon has held hundreds of meetings with officials, donors, and public figures, rallying over 5,000 soldiers who collectively have served nearly a million reserve days since the war began. He proposes a strategic deal: granting land to trained fighters in exchange for a human shield that secures Israel’s borders from within. His unyielding determination is rooted in his philosophy of mental resilience, responsibility, and positive mindset, which he shares in his books and public talks.

This story highlights the silent sacrifices of Israeli soldiers and offers hope through grassroots activism. Hayon’s campaign is a call to recognize and support those who defend the nation by providing them with a tangible stake in the land they protect.