Israeli Court Asked to Halt Student Benefits for Draft Dodgers
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
An Israeli organization petitioned the Supreme Court on Sunday to revoke National Insurance discounts for all students evading military service, arguing for equal enforcement across sectors. The "Emet LeYaakov BeYisrael" group claims current policy unfairly benefits academic students while sanctioning Haredi students for the same draft evasion. The petition cites a recent Supreme Court ruling mandating broad economic enforcement against draft dodgers. The organization seeks a uniform application of sanctions for all citizens, regardless of religious or academic affiliation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- An Israeli organization petitioned the Supreme Court to equalize draft evasion sanctions for all students.
- The petition demands revoking National Insurance discounts for academic students who evade military service.
- The group argues current policy discriminates against Haredi students who face similar sanctions.
- The organization cites a recent Supreme Court ruling supporting broad economic enforcement against draft dodgers.
- The petitioners seek a uniform application of sanctions for all citizens, regardless of background.
An Israeli organization has petitioned the Supreme Court to compel the government to revoke National Insurance discounts for all students who have not legally arranged their military service exemption, mirroring sanctions already applied to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector. The "Emet LeYaakov BeYisrael" organization filed the petition on Sunday against the Defense and Welfare ministries, the National Insurance Institute, and the Attorney General. The legal action, spearheaded by attorney Yehuda Abeles, highlights perceived inequality in enforcement between academic institutions and yeshivas (religious seminaries).
According to data obtained through a freedom of information request, the National Insurance Institute automatically grants monthly payment discounts to university and college students. Concurrently, the state actively withholds these same benefits from yeshiva students whose military status is not regularized, and has also moved to prevent academic scholarships for those who do not enlist. The petitioners cite a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandated broad economic enforcement against all identified draft dodgers.
They argue that the current situation constitutes blatant discrimination, allowing citizens to violate the Security Service Law and still benefit from public funds. This petition follows another by the same organization seeking similar sanctions against Arab citizens and members of other minority groups obligated to serve. Attorney Abeles stated that the principle of equality and the rule of law cannot be applied selectively, asserting that if the state chooses economic measures to enforce conscription, they must be applied universally.
Abeles criticized the reality where an academic student continues to receive taxpayer-funded subsidies despite evading service, while a Haredi student faces economic penalties for the identical offense. "We demand a uniform standard without fear, for students, for Haredim, and also for Arab citizens and members of all faiths," he concluded.
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