‘We are behind you’: Shachpatz App offers IDF veterans rapid legal help abroad for emergencies
Shachpatz brings official alerts, travel advice, and emergency contacts together, with 600 lawyers in 17 countries available to provide initial assistance, according to Shurat HaDin.
An Israeli veteran navigating an airport abroad may face a critical decision-making window when encountering potential legal trouble. To address this issue, Shachpatz, a recently launched app by Shurat HaDin, consolidates travel precautions, emergency contacts, and legal support within a single platform. The inspiration for the app originated from complaints lodged against IDF veterans outside of Israel, according to Shurat HaDin.
The app gathers legal guidance, warnings from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IDF, embassy numbers, a travel checklist, and user-submitted data about specific destinations. Half of these resources aim to facilitate trip organization, while the other half are intended for use in case of trouble after arriving.
Shurat HaDin founder and president Nitzana Darshan-Leitner stated that the app was born out of a desire to shield IDF soldiers from baseless allegations of war crimes and misconduct. She dismissed these claims as false, emphasizing the necessity of creating a platform to safeguard IDF soldiers. The app's primary focus is on preparing soldiers before they embark on their journeys.
Users can access destination-specific warnings, travel checklists, and social media guidelines that help prevent organizations from identifying veterans and tracking their movements. Darshan-Leitner cautioned soldiers against sharing their travel plans or uploading pictures of themselves holding passports before departure.
Although Shachpatz primarily targets combat veterans, the app is designed to assist all Israelis, including reservists and individuals who have completed their military service. It provides guidance on how to respond to questioning, what information to share, and whom to contact in case of arrest. Darshan-Leitner reported that Shurat HaDin has assembled a team of 600 lawyers spread across 17 countries, who are prepared to offer initial assistance to those in need.
The objective is to intervene before a detainment turns into a prolonged legal battle. The most crucial advice during an emergency, according to Darshan-Leitner, is to remain calm and remember that they are not alone.
Shachpatz also benefits from user-generated content. Travelers can share their experiences with hostile treatment or positive encounters in specific locations, allowing other users to make informed decisions before traveling to those destinations. Darshan-Leitner stated that the app serves as a community network to safeguard Israelis and enhance their travel experiences.
The app's success relies heavily on the contributions of Israelis who travel abroad, as they play a vital role in providing accurate information to fellow travelers.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
