Israeli Supreme Court mandates benefit cuts for ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers

In a historic decision, the Israeli High Court of Justice has ordered the government to cut financial benefits for ultra-Orthodox men who evade military service.

The court specifically mandated that ministries begin conditioning access to subsidized daycare, housing, public transit, and municipal tax discounts on a citizen’s draft status.

With thousands of military-age men currently ignoring conscription orders, Justice Noam Sohlberg described the situation as a blatant violation of the law.

This move aims to distribute the 'burden of inequality' more fairly across Israeli society, especially amid current manpower shortages.

Government agencies now face a strict deadline of June 1, 2026, to report on their progress, signaling that the era of blanket exemptions is effectively coming to an end.