In its sitting on Tuesday, Knesset Plenum approved in second and third readings the Bill for Support of Activities for the Benefit of Disabled [IDF Veterans] and Victims of Hostile Acts (Legislative Amendments), 2025, sponsored by MKs Ofir Katz (Likud), Yorai Lahav Hertzanu (Yesh Atid), Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beitenu), and a group of other Knesset Members. Fourteen MKs voted in favor of the bill, with none opposed and no abstentions.
The bill proposes to double the support budgets for organizations working on behalf of disabled IDF veterans and victims of hostile acts. According to the proposal, the state will allocate at least NIS 150 million each year to support organizations that carry out activities for the welfare of disabled army veterans. The funds will be distributed based on support criteria to organizations meeting the conditions set by the Minister of Defense, for the purpose of conducting rehabilitation, sports, cultural, and social activities for disabled veterans, as well as for the construction and renovation of facilities designated for such activities. The funds may also be used for initiatives to promote, improve, and ensure the realization of the rights of disabled veterans, including the renovation and construction of Beit Halochem centers operated by the Disabled IDF Veterans Organization.
The proposal further stipulates that the support budget for organizations working for the welfare of victims of hostile acts and the families of the deceased will amount to no less than NIS 10 million per year. These funds will also be allocated through support criteria to organizations that meet the conditions set by the Minister of Welfare, for rehabilitation, sports, cultural, and social activities for victims and their families, as well as for the operation, construction, and renovation of rehabilitation, sports, cultural, and social facilities designated for victims of hostile acts and for the families of those who died as a result of such acts.
In the debate, MK Katz said, “Today we are doing something great for the state of Israel. This is huge news — a doubling of the budget for Beit Halochem centers and for activities for disabled IDF veterans and victims of hostile acts. I want to tell our fighters — I am your soldier. You have someone to turn to; there is someone who sees your sacrifice. You are the reason we are here, and we owe you everything.”
MK Nir added: “Everything we have is thanks to those fighters who risked their lives. Since the establishment of the state, there have been about 78,000 disabled IDF veterans. The rehabilitation of disabled veterans is a long process. I want to thank all the partners in this important bill. The passage of this law sends a clear and powerful message — the heroes of war are our crowning glory.”
The explanatory notes to the bill state: “Recognizing the importance of the representative organizations’ activities, as well as the contribution of additional organizations working for the benefit of disabled IDF veterans and for the benefit of victims of hostile acts and the families of those who died as a result of such acts, it is proposed to establish by law a minimum sum to be distributed based on support criteria, and to significantly increase the total amount designated for such support.”
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