Soldier Allergic to Bee-Venom Gets Compensation After Three Years

An IDF soldier has been recognized as being disabled after being stung by a bee during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. The soldier, who is allergic to bee stings, was finally granted disabled status after a three year effort to get the army to pay him a disability pension.

He was stung when he was doing guard duty in southern Israel during the war, and immediately felt the consequences — shortness of breath, a large outbreak of skin lesions and dizziness. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained for several weeks, and after being released applied for disability status. His application was strengthened when the army discharged him, despite his insisting that he could still serve in the IDF, albeit not in a combat position.

It took nearly three years, but the Defense Ministry last week granted his application. The soldier had hired an attorney to push the application forward when he realized that the army and the Defense Ministry were dragging their feet on the application, the attorney told Channel Two. “The incident caused irreversible damage, and since the sting he has been forced to undergo regular injections to battle his allergy,” the attorney said. “Although he was not injured while fighting, the decision to recognize this soldier as disabled is the proper one, and will enable him to more easily get the proper treatment.”