IDF Disabled Veterans
and
Bereaved Families
Two population groups that have a sacred status in Israeli society.
These groups involuntarily include hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families who have paid, and will forever continue to pay, a personal price with their bodies and souls, so that Israel can continue to exist as an independent state.
None of them asked to be accepted into the group—those who were injured during their military service became permanently disabled. The bereaved families received the news of their loved one's death, and from that moment on, they joined the club of Israeli bereavement for the rest of their lives.
For this, they are given recognition. They are considered "sacred cows" that must not be touched, harmed, or mocked, and they can be forgiven even if sometimes one of them is annoying.
Their special status stems from the security situation, which is in itself a supreme value in the narrative of the State of Israel.
Its very existence, for 75 years, rests on the IDF and other security forces—the Mossad, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the Israel Police, and the Israel Prison Service.
This is not going to end in the foreseeable future.
Therefore, as long as there are wars and military operations here, the citizens of Israel will be grateful to those who serve in them and will feel a moral obligation toward those who were harmed by the service, and toward their families.
Bereaved Families
Since the establishment of the state and until it reached 75 years old, about 25,000 men and women have died during their service for the security of the state. They are officially defined as "Fallen Defense and Security Forces of Israel." The vast majority of them were very young, whose lives ended prematurely due to military activity, an accident, or illness. They left behind a bereaved family, whose status is sacred: parents, brothers and sisters, a spouse, and children.
The mourning of every bereaved family is the official mourning of the state.
This is immediately apparent from the moment their loved one's death is confirmed: the funeral is held with a full military ceremony in special military sections that have been allocated in cemeteries throughout the country. After the funeral, the state will maintain direct contact with the immediate family, embrace them, and assist them through monthly financial stipends and a social support system that accompanies each family member personally.
The fallen of the security forces are commemorated on the Yizkor website of the Ministry of Defense, each with a separate page that includes their photo, biography, and military activity. The list also includes those who fell before the establishment of the state, as part of the activities of the underground movements that fought against the British Mandate and in various military frameworks that existed until 1948.
Another group of bereaved families are families of "Victims of Hostile Acts."
These families lost their loved ones—a son or daughter, brother or sister, spouse—in terrorist acts or as a result of a military action by enemy forces. Until May 2023, about 5,000 victims of hostile acts were counted from all age groups—babies and the elderly, teenagers, and middle-aged adults. All of them were, in their death, ordinary citizens who did not serve in the security forces.
And yet, their death is part of the Israeli story. Especially in recent decades when terrorist attacks have become part of the daily routine, and the number of victims in them has grown.
The state recognizes terror as part of its war for existence and that the victims of terror paid with their lives for its independence—and it is committed to them. The care of the victims and their families is done through governmental agencies such as: National Insurance or the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The list of the fallen, victims of hostile acts, appears on the website in memory of citizens who are victims of hostile acts.
One day a year, the 4th of Iyar according to the Hebrew calendar, is a national memorial day dedicated specifically to all bereaved families.
On this day, the state flag is lowered to half-mast, private and public memorial ceremonies are held, and all media outlets stop their regular broadcasts and fill the broadcast schedule with stories of the fallen and the dead. In every ceremony, in every story, a place of honor is reserved for the members of bereaved families who receive national encouragement and comfort.
The close proximity between Independence Day and Memorial Day is reflected in the most common phrase on this day: "By their death, they commanded us life." And this commandment is the legacy that is the possession of all Israeli citizens who honor and embrace the bereaved families.
The iconic photo of the boy Lahav, at the grave of his father, the Yamam fighter Michael Cohen.
IDF Disabled Veterans
IDF disabled veterans were injured or contracted an illness during their service in the IDF or in one of the other security forces.
The State of Israel emphasizes its duty to these people, appreciates their work, salutes them at national events, and is also generous with them—it finances any treatment they need and also pays them financial compensation: a fixed monthly pension.
The number of IDF disabled veterans increases every year, because the wars and military operations have not ended.
Until May 2023, their number was estimated at about 100,000 people—about a third of them were injured in military activity, another third in accidents, and the rest from various illnesses and medical problems. Among them are blind people, amputees, severe burn victims, shell-shocked veterans, and those with injuries of all types and classifications—severe, moderate, and mild. All of them receive the most comprehensive medical care and the best possible rehabilitative support.
IDF disabled veterans have a strong and effective organizational framework—The Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO)
The ZDVO operates independently and is not connected to any governmental framework. All its activities focus on ensuring the preservation of their rights, which are enshrined in laws and regulations, and on their personal well-being beyond what is mandated. The ZDVO operates four sports and rehabilitation centers throughout the country called "Beit Halochem" (The Warrior's House), and organizes cultural and leisure activities for them throughout the year.
The special treatment they receive distinguishes an IDF disabled veteran from any other disabled Israeli whose disability is congenital or caused by an accident, illness, or terrorist attack.
An IDF disabled veteran's certificate is worth more than any other disability certificate—more doors are opened to them, more rights are granted to them, and more attention is given to their hardships. Even more than a disability certificate for victims of hostile acts. This is how it was established in the Israeli narrative.
This is self-evident to every Israeli, and there is no dispute about it. After all, IDF disabled veterans were sent for security service, their disability was caused while they were carrying out their duty, and it is a heavy price they paid with their bodies and souls for the security of the state and its citizens.
The logo of The Zahal Disabled Veterans Organization (ZDVO) : "We don't leave the wounded behind." (in Hebrew)
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project
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