Katz Proposes Legislation to Improve Conditions for IDF Soldiers

Defense Minister Israel Katz has announced a pivotal bill designed to improve the service conditions of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. The proposed legislation, set for a vote in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chaired by MK Yuli Edelstein, seeks to enhance the welfare of regular, career, and reserve soldiers, as well as retirees and their families.

Katz, in a message shared on X, called on all Knesset members to stand united in support of the bill, urging them to rise above political divisions. “I expect all Knesset members to support the law without any distinction or political considerations and to demonstrate unity and support for the IDF,” he wrote.

The vote arrives during a turbulent period in Israeli politics, following the departure of the two haredi parties from the coalition over disputes related to the haredi draft bill. The controversy underscores broader national debates about military service and equal responsibility.

Opposition MK Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) criticized the current political climate, stating, “The government is collapsing for all the wrong reasons. You’d expect a real moral reason, perhaps the cost of living or ending the war, but instead, it’s over preserving the rights of draft dodgers. That’s a first-rate moral distortion.”

Committee chairman MK Yuli Edelstein reaffirmed his commitment to fair conscription laws, emphasizing the need for meaningful reform. “I want, wanted, and will want one thing – to bring a real conscription law. Maybe not perfect in everyone’s eyes, but one that addresses the IDF’s needs, with a gradual draft of the ultra-Orthodox," he said. Edelstein added that the proposed legislation includes personal and institutional sanctions, real quotas, and strong oversight mechanisms. “This law ends the phenomenon of pretending to study Torah. To me, that’s a disgrace to the world of Torah.”

The outcome of the vote could mark a turning point for both the welfare of Israel’s soldiers and the national conversation on equal service. Strengthening the IDF’s backbone its soldiers is a cause that transcends politics and unites the nation.

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