The plans are underway for the homecoming of Gilad Shalit, who has been in Hamas captivity for five years. Only a few select persons will be permitted to attend the event, which will be under a media blackout. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has signaled that he plans to attend the event.
The decision was made to declare Shalit an IDF disabled veteran upon his return, with a minimum of 20% disability (for the purpose of gaining veteran benefits). Unlike many western nations, Israel as a rule does not automatically classify returning captives as disabled veterans.
The Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee announced on motzei Shabbos that Shalit will receive this classification automatically, and the necessary authorization from Defense Ministry officials has already been obtained.
Officials are indicating that this decision will be the new standard in the event of returning captives in the future.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
May he have a refuas hanefesh and a refuas haguf. I’m sure he’ll need it.
My heart goes out to this brave young man. May he come home and have all his health and well being restored. May we know no more captives like this and may Hashem deal appropriately with the perpetrators of this crime against humanity. A complete refuah shalamah to Galit, his family and to Klal Yisroel. A good moed….
I guess someone who was tortured for as many years as he was, qualifies as “disabled.”