AG to Update High Court on Stalled Ultra-Orthodox Conscription Sanctions
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara reports to the High Court that the government has failed to revoke property tax and public transit subsidies for ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, defying court orders.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is submitting an update to the High Court of Justice regarding the enforcement of ultra-Orthodox military conscription. The report highlights that the government has yet to revoke municipal property tax and public transit subsidies for ultra-Orthodox draft evaders. This inaction persists despite a High Court ruling last April ordering decisions within 35 days, with professional ministry officials confirming no legal obstacles exist. Revoking these benefits could total hundreds of shekels monthly per family and encourage young ultra-Orthodox individuals to enlist in the IDF.
Government Delays and Professional Consensus
On April 26, a five-judge High Court panel ruled that the government was failing to enforce military service obligations adequately. The justices ordered economic measures against evaders, including limits on housing subsidies, daycare funding, property tax discounts, and public transit perks. While some benefits required decisions within 21 days, ministers were given 35 days regarding property taxes and public transit.
Despite professional recommendations from transport and finance experts, Minister of Transport Miri Regev and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich have failed to advance the revocations over the past six months. Similarly, property tax cancellations remain stalled, with the government citing the lack of an active interior minister—even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds those powers.
Tax Authorities Take Action Amid Rising Evader Numbers
Conversely, the Tax Authority has moved to revoke tax exemptions under Section 46 for yeshivas and NGOs hosting draft evaders. The authority contacted over 1,000 yeshivas, demanding student conscription status reports and threatening the loss of tax benefits, despite initial resistance from Finance Minister Smotrich.
Meanwhile, military draft evasion numbers continue to surge, rising from roughly 75,000 to 110,000 since the beginning of 2026. The IDF estimates that approximately 80% of these classified evaders belong to the ultra-Orthodox community, highlighting a widening enforcement gap between state tax bodies and reluctant cabinet ministers.
