Ultra-Orthodox Parties Pull Support After Housing Subsidy Bill Is Delayed

Shas and United Torah Judaism said Monday they would not vote with the coalition in the Knesset after the government failed to place the housing subsidy bill, known as the Maonim law, on the agenda for first reading as planned. In a joint statement to coalition whip Ofir Katz, the parties said, “We have just informed the coalition whip that because the Maonim law was not placed on today’s agenda, we will not vote today in favor of coalition legislation in the Knesset.”

The ultra-Orthodox factions had been pressing hard behind the scenes to speed up the bill, with the original plan to hold the first-reading vote Monday. They say that once first reading passes, the legislation must move quickly to the Finance Committee, with the aim of completing second and third readings within two weeks so daycare subsidies can be renewed for young yeshiva students who received draft orders.

Political and legal sources believe the High Court of Justice will still block the subsidies even if the bill passes, unless a broader law is enacted to regulate the status of Torah students. The proposal, initiated by Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni and other lawmakers, would prevent a parent’s employment status from being considered when determining priority for daycare admission and state support if that parent studies in higher education or in a yeshiva.

The bill had already passed a preliminary reading last week by 56 votes to 43, after a heated plenum debate and opposition accusations that it unfairly privileges one sector. The issue also triggered a coalition fight after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich claimed the bill’s changes, including a preference for reservists, were made at his request. Gafni rejected that claim sharply, and Shas leader Aryeh Deri also mocked Smotrich, reportedly saying he was considering changing the electoral threshold so that Smotrich would stop “the unnecessary harassment and mockery.” Coalition officials denied Smotrich’s version and said the changes were made long before his supposed demand.