It allocates an annual budget of NIS 450 million ($120 million) specifically for mental health services, ensuring that every soldier receives a personalized treatment plan within 72 hours of discharge.
By Hezy Laing
On July 10, 2026, the Knesset passed the Mental Health Resilience and Recognition Law, a landmark legislation granting formal legal status to IDF soldiers diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mandating tailored, lifelong treatment protocols.
The law, sponsored by MK Yifat Shasha-Biton and backed by Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, recognizes PTSD as a service-connected disability equivalent to physical combat wounds, entitling affected personnel to priority housing, vocational rehabilitation, and tax exemptions.
Current data from the IDF Medical Corps indicates that approximately 12,500 active and reserve soldiers are currently diagnosed with combat-related PTSD, a figure that has risen by 40% since the onset of the October 7, 2023 conflict and the subsequent wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Prior to this legislation, only 35% of diagnosed soldiers received consistent, specialized care due to bureaucratic fragmentation and stigma.
The new law establishes a dedicated National Center for Combat Mental Health under the supervision of Prof. Reuven Gal, former head of the IDF’s Mental Health Department, which will coordinate a network of 15 specialized clinics across Israel.
These clinics will provide evidence-based therapies including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), virtual reality exposure therapy, and peer-support programs led by veterans.
Crucially, the law mandates that diagnosis and treatment begin within 48 hours of symptom reporting, a drastic reduction from the previous average wait time of six weeks.
It also allocates an annual budget of NIS 450 million ($120 million) specifically for mental health services, ensuring that every soldier receives a personalized treatment plan within 72 hours of discharge.
By granting legal status, the law removes the burden of proof from soldiers, automatically qualifying them for benefits upon diagnosis by an authorized military psychiatrist.
This shift is expected to increase reporting rates by an estimated 60%, as fear of career repercussions diminishes.
The legislation also requires regular mental health screenings for all combat units every 90 days, a proactive measure designed to catch early signs of trauma.
As MK Yossi Yona stated during the final reading, “We no longer ask our soldiers to carry invisible wounds alone; the state now bears the responsibility for their healing as it does for their physical scars.”
