Wounded IDF Veterans Call for National Rehabilitation and Employment Plan
Following the elections, wounded IDF veterans call for a national employment rehabilitation program. President Isaac Herzog hosted graduates of the Portland Trust's "Oz VeRuach" initiative, addressing the reintegration challenges faced by 30,000 wounded soldiers.
As the political sphere navigates the aftermath of the Knesset elections, thousands of wounded IDF soldiers and security personnel face a challenging battle to reintegrate into civilian life and the labor market. Last week, President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal hosted wounded soldiers and their families at the President's Residence, marking the graduation of the first cohort from the "Oz VeRuach" initiative by the Portland Trust, which assists wounded veterans in employment rehabilitation.
Tomer Shemony, a 37-year-old former commander in the elite Maglan unit who was severely wounded during reserve service in the war, highlighted the immense hurdles veterans encounter. "The difficulty of returning to the labor market is enormous," Shemony said, calling for greater state-backed solutions and employer support to bridge the gap between field challenges and employment opportunities. Sir Ronald Cohen, founder and chairman of the Portland Trust, noted that the current conflict has added 30,000 wounded personnel to the national tally—half the total number of wounded across all previous Israeli wars. He urged government ministries to adopt outcome-based support models rather than relying solely on the private sector.
Major General (Res.) Yoav "Poly" Mordechai, co-founder of the initiative, emphasized that integrating wounded veterans into the workforce is more complex today as artificial intelligence rapidly transforms industries. President Herzog praised the resilience of the veterans, affirming the President's Residence's continued support for the program and expressing his desire to see wounded soldiers reach leadership positions across the economy.
