Israeli parliament debates the controversial practice of appointing soldiers with post-traumatic stress syndrome for active service. According to the investigation of the diary "Haarec" hundreds, and even thousands of soldiers with intellectual disorders, go to conflict despite intellectual wellness problems. The parent of a soldier who committed suicide after serving in the Gaza Strip warns against the danger of specified a practice.
Efrat MP Rejtan of the Labour organization initiated a debate in the abroad Affairs and Defence Committee of Kneset, harshly criticizing current practices. "The fact that soldiers, suffering from serious intellectual injuries, are entering the battlefield is highly unreasonable" - emphasised the parliamentarian.
The committee gathering took place after publication of the results of the journalistic investigation in the diary "Haarec". Journalists have revealed that hundreds and even thousands of soldiers with post-traumatic disorders have been called into active service despite their intellectual health.
No coordination in the system
The investigation besides showed a deficiency of effective coordination between military wellness care, rehabilitation and unit leadership. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is simply a intellectual disorder developed after highly traumatic experiences specified as participation in war activities.
One of the symptoms is anxiety attacks, insomnia, depression and social difficulties. Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, 19,000 soldiers have been injured, of whom more than 10,000 are struggling with post-traumatic stress syndrome and another intellectual problems - the Department of Rehabilitation in the Israeli Ministry of Defence stated.
The Dramatic Appeal of a Soldier's Mother
In total, there are around 80,000 patients who served in past and present conflicts, including over 30,000 with intellectual problems. At the gathering of the Kneset committee, the parent of a reserve soldier who committed suicide after serving in the Gaza Strip for six months - Eliran Mizrachi.
"Eliran returned home, but did not return to himself. He left Gaza, but Gaza didn't leave Gaza. We saw the change, but we did not realize how large his pain was" - quoted Mizrachi's parent portal Walla. "We must not call soldiers from the PTSD to reserve. It's not heroism or necessity, it's danger. It's a bomb that's gonna blow up in our face" - she warned.
Army personnel problems
Among another things, the Israeli army may endure from shortages of personnel due to a large number of refusals of service among reservists and the exclusion of ultraorthodox Jews from the work to collect. This situation may affect the decision to appoint soldiers with intellectual problems to active service.
(PAP) Note: This article was edited with Artificial Intelligence.
