Housing Ministry Bars 2,593 Haredi Draft Dodgers From Discount Apartment Lottery

Israel's Ministry of Construction and Housing on Wednesday notified 2,593 households of draft-liable Haredim that their entries in the 11th Mekhir LeMishtaken discount apartment lottery had been canceled, the first administrative enforcement of a May 24 Israel Land Authority Council decision implementing the High Court of Justice ruling that draft dodgers lose economic benefits. The disqualified households represent about 2 percent of the 114,848 entries competing for 7,922 subsidized apartments across 19 municipalities. United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush denounced the letters as robbery from every Jew, saying every Jew has a share in the Land of Israel and the right to state land benefits. Housing officials are now reviewing whether to strip eligibility from earlier lottery winners who have not yet signed apartment contracts.