Israel Tightens Subsidized Housing Rules, Bars Draft Evaders and Expands Benefits for Reservists
The Israel Land Authority Council has adopted new regulations that exclude individuals classified as draft evaders from participating in state-subsidized housing schemes unless they first resolve their military status with the IDF.
The measure, approved during a session led by Housing Minister Chaim Katz, also increases benefits for reservists. Under the revised plan, half of the apartments in the upcoming “Dira B’Hanachah” housing lottery will be allocated to reservists, with combat soldiers receiving top priority.
The rest of the housing units will be available to the general public, but only to those who have properly settled their service status with the IDF, according to Channel 13 News. People who are eligible for conscription but have not addressed their status will be barred from receiving subsidized housing.
The policy change follows legal guidance issued by the attorney general’s office requiring immediate enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon instructed the Israel Land Authority Council to implement operational procedures, including a system to automatically disqualify draft evaders.
The decision comes after delays to the latest housing lottery, which was postponed twice, first by ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Chaim Katz, and later by the courts following legal challenges to the program.
Under the new framework, all applicants must sign declarations confirming whether their military status has been resolved. Anyone found to have provided false information could lose eligibility or even forfeit an allocated apartment if discrepancies are discovered later.
The upcoming lottery is expected to include around 8,000 housing units, but the distribution model will be significantly altered. More than half of the units will be reserved for reservists, who will also receive all apartments set aside for rental programs.
