IDF backtracks on refusal to recognize reservist who took own life as fallen soldier

The IDF will reexamine circumstances leading to the refusal of a request to recognize Roi Wasserstein, an IDF reservist who took his own life, as a fallen soldier, the Israeli military said on Thursday following public backlash.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir instructed to examine the possibility of changing policies that would give the IDF the authority to approve, in special cases, recognizing a reserve soldier who died outside of military service as a fallen soldier.

According to Kadosh, who wrote his report with the Wasserstein family's permission, Roi had been sharing difficult experiences from his reserve service, and spoke repeatedly about the horrors that he had experienced.

Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the situation after two MKs from the coalition and opposition, Eti Atiah of Likud and Merav Ben Ari of Yesh Atid, wrote him letters requesting he review the recognition of Wasserstein as a fallen soldier.

Katz stated he had instructed the IDF to provide "all possible assistance" to Wasserstein's family, including assisting with funeral arrangements and military honors.

Additionally, Katz added that the IDF Personnel Directorate is "in ongoing and continuous contact with the family."

Kadosh reported that the IDF told him that "a civilian who is not in active reserve service at the time of suicide is not recognized as an IDF casualty, and there is no intention to change this."

Wasserstein's most recent reserve duty ended in May, Kadosh notes.

Kadosh later interviewed Wasserstein's mother and brother.

"He gave his all, and after every round of reserve duty, he didn't return the same," his mother told Kadosh.

"We always heard about his heroism from everywhere and everyone," she added, before complaining about how she now has to fight for him to be recognized as a fallen soldier instead of being able to mourn her son.

"I haven’t received a single call from the army until now. Instead of processing the grief, I have to struggle and fight for recognition. Isn’t it obvious that a boy who served in the reserves as a medic should be recognized? It’s obvious. It’s unthinkable," she added.

"This is the army's failure. The army knew how to call him up for reserves, but they didn’t even pick up the phone to contact us after the incident. No one reached out to us," his brother said.

"We will go all the way; he will be recognized as a fallen IDF soldier," he insisted.

"He shared with me and talked about the harsh sights. He saw horrors, he saved fighters' lives, and he spoke about the difficulty. After every incident and evacuation, we would talk a lot; our parents didn’t even know. I asked him, what did you see? He would say it was weighing on him," his brother continued.

"His company commander said that recently he tried to reduce the intensity of the reserve duty because he felt it was beyond his capacity. He must be entitled to a military burial; my parents need to be recognized as bereaved parents," his brother added.

"I call on the army officials, it’s not too late, we are here waiting for your knock on the door," his brother emphasized.