Rights9/7/2026

Implementation Regulations for the Welfare Services for Persons with Disabilities Law Withdrawn

Welfare and Social Affairs Minister Haim Katz withdrew the implementation regulations for the Welfare Services for Persons with Disabilities Law from the Knesset immediately before the committee was due to vote on them. As a result, the regulations were not submitted for approval, and it remains unknown when they will be brought back for discussion.

Key facts

•Minister: Haim Katz
•Body: Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee
•The regulations were withdrawn before the vote
•Period of discussions: four years
•Stated funding for the law: NIS 2.2 billion
•Legal basis of the dispute: Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Community Law

What Happened

The Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee intended to vote on the regulations contrary to the position of the responsible ministry. When it became clear that the vote would take place, Minister Haim Katz withdrew the document from the deliberations. This followed four years of discussions and attempts to complete the regulatory framework needed to implement the law.

Why the Regulations Are Necessary

The law is intended to enshrine the right of persons with disabilities to live independently and autonomously in the community, and to reduce their placement in institutions housing large numbers of residents. It provides for adapting social services to different types of disabilities and required levels of support, and for expanding personal choice and shared decision-making. Implementation also requires a mechanism for assessing the level of support and appropriate funding.

Cause of the Dispute

The dispute arose over services provided to persons with mental health disorders. The ministry insisted that they should receive assistance from the Ministry of Health under the Rehabilitation of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Community Law, while a majority of committee members opposed excluding them from the new regulations. The ministry said that including an additional group without a separate budget would reduce the funds allocated to other persons with disabilities.

What Followed the Withdrawal

Committee Chair MK Michal Woldiger strongly condemned the minister’s decision, saying that it harms persons with disabilities and civil society. By contrast, MK Adi Azuz noted the need to provide separate additional funding for services for persons with mental health disorders. The regulations remain unapproved; the source does not state when they will be brought back for discussion or whether the dispute will be resolved.

What this means for you

Until the regulations are approved, the mechanisms prescribed by the law for providing and adapting services lack a completed regulatory framework. For persons with disabilities and their families, this means continued uncertainty regarding the practical implementation of the new rights and services, including procedures for assessing the need for support. The question of which government body will provide services to persons with mental health disorders, and the budget that will fund them, also remains unresolved.

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