Israeli Government Prepares to Withdraw After-School Discounts for Military Service Objectors Starting 2026

The Israeli Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has instructed the Ministry of Education to prepare for the removal of discounts on after-school programs for individuals obligated to serve in the military, starting with the 2026/27 school year. This decision was communicated in an update to the Supreme Court amid ongoing legal proceedings concerning enforcement of military conscription obligations. However, due to time constraints, the discount removal will not apply to summer school programs in the immediate future.

Baharav-Miara also noted delays in canceling public transportation discounts for those obligated to serve, attributing the hold-up to Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Additionally, the government has yet to transfer municipal tax authority to the Prime Minister, preventing the cancellation of property tax discounts at this stage. These measures are part of broader civil sanctions ordered by the Supreme Court against individuals who fail to report for military service.

The update referenced a November 2025 Supreme Court ruling mandating effective enforcement against draft evaders through both criminal and civil-economic measures, emphasizing the need for equitable and proportionate policies. Following claims that the government had not implemented the ruling, a contempt of court motion was filed. The government has already barred draft objectors from discounted housing lotteries and is considering extending this to those on waiting lists from previous lotteries.

The Ministry of Labor plans to expand the removal of discounts in daycare centers and after-school programs under its jurisdiction, while the Ministry of Education must now prepare to implement similar measures in "Nitzanim" after-school programs, which predominantly serve the Haredi community. Updated recruitment data shows that approximately 80,000 summonses were issued to Haredi candidates in 2024 and 2025, with around 8,000 reporting and 2,900 actually enlisted. Currently, about 92,000 individuals are obligated or declared as draft evaders, with 80% from the Haredi sector. The Attorney General stressed that draft evasion among the general population is minimal and largely historical.

From early 2026 to mid-June, 294 indictments were filed against draft evaders, including 32 from the Haredi community. Between August 2025 and May 2026, 1,136 disciplinary trials were conducted, with 424 involving Haredi individuals.