Israeli Finance Ministry Targets Haredi Families by Cutting Subsidies to Boost Military Enlistment

A recent summary document on Israel's military recruitment year, published on August 8, highlights the Finance Ministry's strategy to expand economic sanctions against draft evaders, focusing particularly on cutting subsidies for after-school programs known as "Nitzanim." This move is part of broader efforts to increase enlistment rates among the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, which heavily utilizes these subsidies. The document, stemming from a government meeting on August 3 led by State Attorney Gali Baharav-Miara and attended by representatives from the IDF, police, Finance Ministry, and other agencies, explains that the subsidy removal is considered especially effective due to the large number of Haredi households benefiting from it and the significant monthly savings it provides.

The Finance Ministry representatives explicitly identified the Nitzanim program as a key target, describing it as "the most effective" incentive to increase enlistment. The document also notes ongoing evaluations of other benefits, such as housing rent subsidies, which may be similarly restricted. The policy has sparked sharp criticism from Haredi political figures, who argue that cutting these subsidies contradicts the state's declared goal of encouraging Haredi women's employment. They emphasize that the after-school programs enable mothers to work, so removing subsidies harms not only draft-eligible individuals but also working mothers and children.

United Torah Judaism MK Uri Maklev condemned the Finance Ministry's approach as cruel and morally reprehensible, accusing officials of deliberately targeting Torah students and harming vulnerable families. The controversy carries political implications ahead of upcoming elections, with Haredi factions blaming Finance Minister and Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich for the policy, despite no direct evidence linking him personally to the decision. Critics warn that Smotrich cannot disassociate from the Finance Ministry's actions under his leadership, which they say repeatedly impose harsh economic burdens on Haredi families. They urge Haredi voters to consider these developments when casting their ballots.