Amid a troubling rise in IDF suicides, a Knesset debate on the ultra-Orthodox draft evasion law erupted in shouts earlier today as reservists sharply criticized politicians over unequal military service rules.
“This time, respect us! Do you know what I’ve gone through in combat?” one reservist yelled at the attending ministers, recalling friend Eliran Mizrachi, a reservist with post-traumatic stress disorder who took his own life in June 2024 after being ordered to return to combat in the Gaza Strip. “Listen to us!” he pleaded.
“Every day, someone dies,” he continued. “Stop everything — my brothers are killing themselves!”
“It could be your son!” he added, directing his words at the ministers.
The outburst highlights mounting frustration among reservists amid ongoing concerns over mental health and the pressures of service.
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From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
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