Israeli Panel Urges New Authority for 50,000 Former Soldiers With Trauma

A government committee headed by Professor Shlomo Mor Yosef issued its first report on Sunday recommending the creation of a new independent authority to handle emotional trauma and PTSD cases among former IDF soldiers. It called for the new authority to have its own budget, computer systems, and streamlined decision-making powers.

The committee estimated that the annual budget for trauma care has already risen from NIS 5 billion in 2023 to NIS 10 billion in 2026. It recommended an additional NIS 2 billion per year plus a one-time investment of more than NIS 500 million to establish the new authority.

Many of the proposed changes require new legal measures. The committee advised the current government to issue regulations rather than wait for Knesset legislation ahead of upcoming elections.

Since October 2023, emotional trauma claims have accounted for about 50 percent of the roughly 25,000 claims filed related to recent wars, compared with 15 percent in past conflicts. Total claims of harm now stand at 87,000, including 31,000 emotional trauma and PTSD cases.

The committee also recommended weekly emotional trauma visits instead of visits every two to three weeks, placing IDF representatives on approval committees, and creating separate clinics for former soldiers.

EEG machines paired with AI provide individualized feedback on calming cues, and AI tools reduce record-keeping time for mental-health professionals. The committee began work in November 2025 after the ministry revised its estimate for reaching 100,000 total wounded soldiers from 2030 to 2028.