HIV – Positive People In Israel To Serve In Non-Combat Positions says Defence

Col. Moshe Pinkert, Head of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Medical Services Department, said that due to advances in treatment which increased the vitality of people living with HIV, and given the low risk of contagion, such people can now serve in non-combat positions.

He said on Wednesday in Tel Aviv that such people were being restricted to non-combat positions because infection with the HIV virus could lead to AIDS and combat position would be too dangerous for HIV-positive people.

Pinkert added that given the risk of heavy bleeding from wounds, the policy change was expected to affect dozens of people.

He explained that for HIV-positive people to be drafted, there was need for them to receive a declaration of health from a physician.

The IDF head noted that it was important to accept HIV-positive people in the society to lessen the social stigma and make them part of Israeli societies.

He added that “with this, we’re making them like all the people of Israel.’’