Recruitment decrees: The Ministry of Construction and Housing today (Wednesday) informed candidates from the Haredi sector who registered for the 'Apartment at a Discount' lotteries that their eligibility to participate in the programs was disqualified due to them being 'deserters' from military service.
The move followed a High Court directive to the government to tighten enforcement and deny economic benefits to those who do not report for service in the IDF.
A letter sent to thousands of Torah students via email stated: "In accordance with the High Court of Justice decision and the decision of the Israel Lands Council, starting on May 25, 2026, eligibility to participate in the 'Apartment at a Discount' lotteries is conditional on the fact that, according to IDF data, the individual or each of the spouses registering for the lottery are not defined by the IDF as being subject to conscription who have not regularized their status.".
""According to information received from the IDF, you are defined as someone who has not regularized your status. Your participation in the lottery will not be possible.".
As part of the implementation of the new policy according to the High Court's instructions, it was decided to cancel 5 major benefits for the 'defectors': 'discounted apartment' lotteries, tuition subsidies at higher education institutions, discounts on after-school care, subsidies on public transportation, and discounts on property tax payments.
MK Meir Porush On the Housing Ministry's announcement: "The Holy One, the Blessed One, gave the land of the Land of Israel to the Jewish people. Every Jew has a share in this land, and the content of the Housing Ministry's announcement conveys a robbery of each of us.".
"Every Jew has the right to live in the Land of Israel and therefore every Jew is also entitled to all the rights that the state grants in the field of land.".
