Suicide was biggest cause of death for IDF soldiers in 2017

2 January 2018, 7:11 pm

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Some 16 IDF soldiers committed suicide in 2017, making it the leading cause of death among Israeli troops last year, the army says.

In second place are car accidents, which claimed the lives of 12 soldiers.

The suicide figures are similar to 2016 and 2015, when 15 soldiers committed suicide, but a significant decrease from the early 2000s when dozens of soldiers each year ended their own lives.

Car accident deaths were up from the seven dead in both 2015 and 2016, but down from preceding years.

In total, 55 Israeli soldiers, including conscripts, career officers and reservists, were killed in the past year in terror attacks, accidents, car crashes and from medical causes.

— Judah Ari Gross