3 Billion Shekel Benefit Package Approved for Military Reservists

Jerusalem, 13 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The government of Israel approved a package of relief and benefits totaling 3 billion Shekels ($840 million) for men and women serving in military reserve duty, in light of the extensive number of weeks and even months of service required of many Israelis since the October 7 massacre.

The program includes a variety of benefits for military reservists, including tax credits, land discounts, grants for employers, housing benefits, and a digital wallet of up to 5,000 Shekels ($1,400) for leisure and welfare for the service members’ families.

Minister of Innovation and Science Gila Gamliel will lead relief and benefits for reserve service members in the fields of research and technological development.

The Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology’s benefits package for research and science professionals include:

Research Grants: The ministry will award an additional 10 points in the national call for research grants ranking for 2025 to scientists who have served over 100 days on reserve duty since October 7, 2023. The grants, amounting to 500,000 Shekels ($140,000) for three years, will give significant priority to researchers from reserve service.

Fellowships for Entrepreneurial Postdoctoral Researchers: The Ministry will award an additional 10 points in the ranking for Entrepreneurial Postdoctoral Fellowships to researchers who have served over 150 days in the reserve force since the beginning of the war.