Government Delays Halving Benefits for Draft-Dodging Haredim
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
The Israeli government is delaying the removal of public transport and Arnona tax discounts for Haredi draft dodgers, despite a Supreme Court ruling and professional recommendations. The number of draft dodgers has risen to 110,000, with 80% estimated to be Haredi. In a separate incident, radical Haredim blocked a highway to protest arrests, facing a strong police response.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The Israeli government is delaying the revocation of benefits for Haredi draft dodgers, contrary to a Supreme Court order.
- The benefits include discounts on Arnona taxes and public transportation, worth hundreds of shekels monthly.
- The number of draft dodgers has increased to 110,000, with 80% estimated to be from the Haredi community.
- Ministers Miri Regev and Bezalel Smotrich were tasked with reviewing the public transport discounts.
- Radical Haredim blocked Highway 4 in protest of draft dodger arrests, leading to police intervention.
- Police Commissioner Dany Levy vowed zero tolerance for those disrupting public order.
The Israeli government has been delaying for months the revocation of significant benefits for Haredi draft dodgers, despite a Supreme Court order and the professional recommendations of government ministries. The benefits in question include discounts on municipal taxes (Arnona) and public transportation, potentially worth hundreds of shekels monthly to each dodger and their family. The Supreme Court had ordered the government to review the revocation of these benefits back in April. Both the Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, and the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, were tasked with professionally assessing the public transport discounts. The professional opinion, submitted months ago, found no professional obstacle to proceeding with the measure. However, no action has been taken since, despite repeated inquiries. The government's stated reason for not advancing the Arnona discount revocation is the absence of an Interior Minister. However, the Prime Minister has assumed control of the Interior Ministry's powers but has not addressed this specific issue. The Ministry's director-general, who lacks the authority to make such a decision, cited unspecified problems. Consequently, these benefits, granted to those defined as Haredi draft dodgers, remain in place. This is occurring despite explicit statements from involved parties that revoking them could encourage Haredi youth to enlist. The number of Israelis defined as draft dodgers has surged to 110,000, up from approximately 75,000 at the start of 2026, with projections for further increases. The army estimates that about 80% of current dodgers are from the Haredi community. Separately, dozens of radical Haredim from the Jerusalem Faction blocked Highway 4 at the Gan Yavne interchange on Monday in protest of arrests of draft dodgers. Police forcibly dispersed the protesters after about 90 minutes, using stun grenades. Police Commissioner Dany Levy stated that those who choose to disrupt public order and block roads will be met with a firm hand and zero tolerance.
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