IDF Forms Committee on Fallen Soldiers’ Legacy

The IDF has established a steering committee to examine issues of commemorating IDF fallen soldiers and preserving their legacy in IDF units and bases. The committee was established in the wake of the war, which necessitates a renewed, sensitive, and in-depth examination of these areas within the IDF. It will deal with regulating aspects related to the manner of commemoration and the expression of legacy in IDF units and camps. The committee is led by Brigadier General (Res.) Ofir Livius, and its members include professionals, commanders, representatives from the Ministry of Defense, as well as representatives from the representative organizations of bereaved families. The committee began its work last December, in order to formulate recommendations regarding the legacy and commemoration of IDF fallen soldiers in the military sphere. It is expected to submit its conclusions and recommendations in the coming months to the Head of the Manpower Directorate, the Deputy Director General and Head of the Families, Commemoration, and Legacy Administration at the Ministry of Defense, and thereafter they will be submitted for approval by the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, the Chief of Staff, and the Minister of Defense. The IDF and the Ministry of Defense attach great importance to the involvement of bereaved families in the planning and thinking processes, and therefore bereaved families will be invited to open days and to convey content and ideas as they wish. The IDF views the legacy and commemoration of its fallen as a supreme moral and ethical obligation, out of a deep commitment to its fallen and their families, which also has implications for the next generation. The IDF shares in the sorrow of the bereaved families and will continue to accompany them.