Israeli Government Bars Draft-Dodging Haredim From Affordable Housing Program Following Supreme Court Ruling

The Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing announced on Wednesday that Haredi candidates who are draft evaders will be disqualified from participating in subsidized housing lotteries. This decision follows a Supreme Court directive urging the government to tighten enforcement and revoke economic benefits from those obligated to serve in the military but who fail to do so. A letter sent to all conscription obligors stated that starting May 25, 2026, eligibility for discounted housing lotteries will require that neither the individual nor their spouse be classified by the IDF as having unresolved conscription status. According to IDF data, those who have not regularized their status will be barred from participation. Alongside housing, the government has canceled five key benefits for this population, including tuition subsidies for higher education, discounts on after-school programs, public transportation subsidies, and reduced municipal tax payments.