Reservist Called Up by Order 8 Wins Compensation for Returning to Israel via 3 Countries

A reserve major, called up under Order 8 while in Prague, won compensation from the Defense Ministry for his return travel expenses to Israel. The Small Claims Court ordered the ministry to pay him 5,000 shekels—the maximum amount under the 2025 assistance fund rules—plus 1,000 shekels for court costs. The remaining 659 shekels will be reviewed by the exceptional cases committee. The officer traveled via London, Larnaca, and Aqaba after his flight was canceled. The ministry demanded a commander's confirmation, but the court deemed this requirement unreasonable.

A reserve major, called up under Order 8 (Tzav 8) while in Prague, won compensation from the Defense Ministry for his return travel expenses to Israel. The Small Claims Court ordered the ministry to pay him 5,000 shekels—the maximum amount stipulated by the 2025 assistance fund rules—plus 1,000 shekels as reimbursement for court costs. The question of paying the remaining 659 shekels is to be reviewed by the exceptional cases committee. The officer was in Prague when he received the call-up notice. After his original flight was canceled, he independently arranged a route with British Airways and TUS Airways flights, including stopovers and a bus ride. He traveled via London, Larnaca, and Aqaba, after which he arrived at his unit in central Israel. The Defense Ministry refused to pay, demanding a commander's endorsement (of at least colonel rank) confirming the necessity of his arrival. The ministry also cited the six-day gap between the call-up and his arrival, the lack of an original return ticket, and the unit's operational specifics. The court rejected these arguments, noting that the requirements were not published in the fund's rules, and criticized the ministry for first calling up the officer and then demanding he explain why he obeyed the order. The judge also called the promise to refer the matter to the committee an attempt to mislead the plaintiff.