Israeli Finance Committee Advances Bill to Restore Daycare Subsidies for Ultra-Orthodox Draft Evaders
Israel's Knesset Finance Committee voted to advance legislation that would restore daycare subsidies for children of ultra-Orthodox men who refuse military conscription, bypassing an August 2024 Attorney General order to cut such benefits. The bill, sponsored by the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, would base subsidy eligibility solely on the mother's employment status rather than the father's draft compliance. The measure faces criticism from the Finance and Justice Ministries, which argue it undermines both workforce integration and military recruitment goals.
The Knesset Finance Committee voted to advance a bill that would restore daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox families whose male members evade military conscription. This move directly counters an August 2024 Attorney General directive to cut such subsidies following a High Court ruling that eliminated the legal basis for the Haredi community's decades-long blanket draft exemption. The bill, sponsored by United Torah Judaism, would change eligibility criteria to consider only the mother's employment or educational status, effectively circumventing the government's ability to penalize draft non-compliance through subsidy cuts. The Finance Committee also amended the bill to give IDF reservists priority in daycare admissions and subsidy levels. However, both the Finance Ministry and Justice Ministry have publicly opposed the legislation, arguing it would undermine economic incentives for ultra-Orthodox workforce participation and military service, while reducing the effectiveness of economic benefits that have recently contributed to increased Haredi conscription rates.
What's missing
The article notes the bill was 'amended before Tuesday's vote' and mentions demands from committee chair Hanoch Milwidsky, but does not provide details on what other amendments were proposed or rejected during committee deliberations.
What different sources said
- Times of IsraelCenter
Finance Committee moves to restore daycare subsidies for ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers
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