Knesset advances bill to fully fund scholarships for combat soldiers

By Carrie Keller-Lynn 4 December 2023, 6:32 pm

2 Edit

Carrie Keller-Lynn is a former political and legal correspondent for The Times of Israel

Ben Gurion University of the Negev students work at a logistic center set up on campus, in an undated photo during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. (Courtesy)

The Knesset advances in its first reading a bill to fully fund scholarships for combat and underprivileged soldiers, as part of the broadly popular “MeMadim LeLimudim,” or “From Uniforms to Studies,” tuition scholarship program.

The program is currently a 75% tuition scholarship, increased from 66% in 2022 as part of a political compromise.

The program was originally funded by private donors and intentionally left a self-funded portion in order to encourage commitment among scholarship recipients.

Funding shifted to the Defense Ministry in 2022, and the program briefly became a political football, as various political factions pressed for their own interests alongside a debate on how to fund the program.