New data published this week by the National Insurance Institute presents a surprising picture regarding the family status of male and female reservists serving in the war. According to the examination, which is based on data from the reserve system, the rate of separations and divorces among serving personnel does not exceed the general rate in Israeli society. This stands in contrast to the prevalent assertion that attributes higher divorce rates to the reserve system as a result of prolonged service.
The data shows that 53% of all reservists are single, while 44% are married or common-law spouses. In addition, 0.5% of the reserve array are widowed, and 3% are defined as divorced or separated.
A deeper examination of the divorced and separated group, which as noted constitutes 3% of the entire reserve array, revealed that approximately 26% of them divorced or separated after their first period of service. The National Insurance Institute points out that this separation figure is similar to the general national average in Israel's population, which stands at an average of approximately 28% divorce.
The publication comes as part of the National Insurance Institute's continuous monitoring to examine the consequences of the prolonged period of service, alongside the payment of reserve benefits and the financial assistance provided also to separated spouses of serving personnel.
Tzvika Cohen, acting director-general of the National Insurance Institute, addressed the findings, saying: "The families of reservists are the pillar of Israel's national resilience at this time. Even though the data shows that the divorce rate among the reserve array is identical to the national average, it is important to pay attention to the clear challenges and great complexity that prolonged service poses to the family unit. The National Insurance Institute will continue to stand alongside the fighters and their family members, to provide the required social envelope, and calls on the relevant authorities to pay attention to the specific complexity facing male and female reservists."