New Petition Challenges Subsidy Cuts for Haredi Families
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
A second petition was filed with Israel's High Court of Justice challenging new subsidy rules for daycare centers that link family eligibility to a parent's military status. The new rules could disqualify families if a parent is considered a draft dodger or deserter, even if other criteria are met. Petitioners are asking the court to cancel the condition or allow a transition period.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- A second petition challenges new Israeli daycare subsidy rules linked to parental military status.
- Families may lose subsidies if a parent is classified as a draft dodger or deserter.
- The new rules expand restrictions beyond those based solely on religious study.
- Petitioners seek cancellation of the condition or a transition period for families.
- The High Court has not yet ruled on the second petition.
A second petition has been filed with the High Court of Justice (Bagatz) challenging new conditions for receiving subsidies for daycare centers and family groups for the 2026-2027 school year. The petitioners are seeking to cancel a requirement that links a parent's military status to a family's eligibility for subsidies, or alternatively, to establish a transition period for families to adjust to the change.
Under the new support criteria, families where one parent is defined as a draft dodger, received an order under Section 12 of the Security Service Law, or is classified as a deserter could lose their full subsidy for daycare and family groups. This means that even families meeting other eligibility requirements, including those with working mothers, may not qualify if one parent falls under these definitions.
The change primarily expands the restriction on subsidy eligibility. Previous arrangements focused on eligibility based on Torah study, but the new criteria apply the military status condition to all subsidy tracks. This means the restriction is no longer limited to families seeking subsidies based on the father's study in a Torah institution. Families meeting employment criteria could also be affected if one parent is included in the disqualifying definitions.
The petition requests the High Court to either cancel the new condition or mandate a transition period before its implementation. This is the second petition filed against the arrangement. The filing of the petition does not currently alter the support criteria, and the High Court has not yet issued a ruling on the request.