Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett Advancing Plan to Bring Families of Lone Soldiers to Israel
Source: YNET
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Naftali Bennett is promoting a government decision to bring the parents and families of lone soldiers serving in the IDF to Israel to visit their children during their service. More than 2,900 lone soldiers whose parents live abroad are currently serving in the IDF. While there are organizations that facilitate parental visits to Israel, not all parents of serving lone soldiers can afford such an expense. As such, the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs—in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense— will formulate and implement a unique program for organized visits.
The program is expected to operate in a manner similar to the Taglit-Birthright Israel project and will include flights to and from Israel, accommodations and sightseeing throughout Israel. Lone soldiers will join their families for a significant part of their trip.
"The parents and families of lone soldiers are providing the nation what they value the most and throughout their service, they do not see their child and are not in any official contact with the State of Israel," said Bennett.
"We must work to strengthen their contact with their families as part of a commitment on behalf of the government of Israel, which has a commitment to Jews around the world."