Israel's Top Lawyer to Update High Court on Unresolved Draft Evasion Benefits
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Israel's Attorney General will update the High Court on the government's failure to revoke financial benefits for draft evaders, including property tax and public transport discounts. The court had ordered these measures nearly six months ago, but decisions remain pending. While professional recommendations support revoking the discounts, government ministers have not acted. The Tax Authority has, however, begun revoking tax benefits for educational institutions attended by these individuals.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara will update the High Court on continued benefits for draft evaders.
- Property tax and public transport discounts remain for those evading military service.
- The High Court ordered the government to revoke these benefits nearly six months ago.
- Ministers Miri Regev and Bezalel Smotrich received recommendations to revoke discounts.
- The government cites a lack of an Interior Minister for property tax benefit delays.
- The Tax Authority is revoking tax benefits for educational institutions attended by evaders.
The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, is set to inform the High Court of Justice today about the continued provision of significant financial benefits to individuals evading military conscription. These benefits, including discounts on property taxes and public transportation, were supposed to be revoked following a court order issued nearly six months ago. The court had mandated the government to implement economic measures against those who have not regularized their status with the army, with a deadline for decisions having already passed.
In April, a five-judge panel ruled that the government was not doing enough to enforce military service obligations on the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) public. The judges specifically ordered the advancement of economic sanctions, such as limiting housing discounts and subsidizing daycare, alongside reviewing the removal of property tax and public transport concessions. Ministers were given 35 days to decide on revoking these latter benefits, with instructions to justify any deviation from professional recommendations.
Despite the elapsed time, no final decisions have been made. Reports indicate that the Minister of Transportation, Miri Regev, and the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, received professional recommendations months ago stating there is no obstacle to revoking public transport discounts for draft evaders. However, the process has stalled. Regarding property taxes, the government cites the absence of a permanent Interior Minister as a reason for delay, although the Prime Minister has assumed the ministry's powers. The director-general of the ministry has raised difficulties with the measure, lacking the authority to make a final decision.
Meanwhile, the Tax Authority has begun to act independently, moving to revoke tax benefit approvals for yeshivas and associations attended by draft-eligible individuals who have not regularized their status. The authority has contacted over a thousand institutions to report on their students' status.
