IDF personnel chief said to promise family he will advance recognition of reservist who died by suicide as fallen soldier

The chief of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate, Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, visited the family of Roi Wasserstein — a reservist who died by suicide last week — and promised to do everything in his power to promote official recognition of Wasserstein as a fallen soldier, Army Radio reports.

Bar Kalifa also reportedly updated the family on progress in establishing a special committee to review the status given to discharged and reserve soldiers who die by suicide due to the psychological toll of their military service. The committee was formed in coordination with Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.

After Wasserstein’s death, his family was informed — through unofficial channels — that he would not be recognized as a military casualty because his service had ended two months earlier, and that he would therefore be buried in a civilian ceremony. The decision drew public backlash and intensified calls for the IDF to reform its approach to post-service trauma.

In response to the outcry, Zamir instructed the military to explore advancing legislation that would allow reservists who die outside of active duty to be recognized as fallen soldiers, provided a direct link is found between their service and their death.