Speaking in Knesset on Wednesday, 2 Sivan, Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan announced everything possible is being done towards finding a solution to assist disabled IDF Operation Protective Edge veteran Yehuda HaYisraeli.

HaYisraeli’s plight became national news when it was learned the Defense Ministry would not renovate the family home in Ofra to accommodate is severe disabilities. This led to outrage and a private initiative on the “Headstart” website, which succeeded in raising over NIS 1.3 million in private donations to assist the soldier and his family.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu this week sent a letter to Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, calling on him to use his resources to find a solution and assist the family.

In response to a query on the matter from a number of MKs, Ben-Dahan explained he knows the family personally and has met with them before the situation was published in the media. He lamented the ministry’s Exceptions Committee did not even convene to discuss the matter because the home in question does not fulfill the minimum criteria. As was reported, the family home in Yishuv Ofra is “illegal” in the eyes of the Ministry of Defense, hence disqualifying if from the state-funded renovations.

Ben-Dahan has turned to IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major-General Yoav Mordechai to expedite issuing a permit retroactively to make the home legal, and thereby clearing the path for the ministry to step in. He is now awaiting Mordechai’s response, who will determine if the move is possible.

Ben-Dahan stated everything possible is being done to find a solution in the case to permit the ministry to assist the soldier and his family.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)