The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer joined more than 60 wounded British veterans taking part in the third annual Veterans Games in Tel Aviv this week, alongside their IDF counterparts.
The Games were organised by Beit Halochem, a charity which supports 51,000 wounded IDF soldiers and victims of terror.
The Veterans’ Affairs Minister addressed the opening ceremony saying “there’s nothing quite like being welcomed in Israel” and praised the Games for “sharing best practice”, believing that sport is “the most powerful vehicle to recovery”. Mercer paid tribute to the UK and Israel’s “incredibly strong” relationship, asserting: “we have strong security ties, strong economic ties, and Britain is already one of Israel’s biggest European trading partners”.
Co-founder of the Games, Spencer Gelding, who himself served in the Royal Marines, celebrated the impact of the Games on veterans and their family members, explaining: “for some of those taking part, these Games are the first time they have travelled abroad since being injured, or the first time they’ve socialised with fellow veterans for many years, or simply the first time they’ve experienced a family holiday since their lives changed forever”.
Participants and their families also had the opportunity to tour Israel, visiting the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. “Medals are a great bonus, but our goal is to provide an environment for veterans to challenge themselves in a way that will provide lasting benefits, while building friendships with other heroes and their families with whom they have so much in common”, Gelding added.
Phil Eaglesham served as a Royal Marines commando in Afghanistan before contracting Q Fever. Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle about the similarities between Israelis and growing up in Northern Ireland, he said: “we both know what it’s like to go through life at risk from terrorist attacks and we have a lot in common. The tragedies caused by war don’t change from country to country. We all have to deal with the same injuries, and here we’ve been getting tips from each other – the camaraderie and atmosphere have been fantastic”.
