Statement by IDI's Yohanan Plesner on Housing Incentives for Haredim who Serve in the IDF

IDI President Yohanan Plesner responds to a report composed today by an inter-ministerial team led by Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Dan Harel suggesting that the government examine the possibility of offering discount prices on homes for members of the Haredi public who serve in the security forces.

In response to a report composed today by an inter-ministerial team led by Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Dan Harel suggesting that the government examine the possibility of offering discount prices on homes for members of the Haredi public who serve in the security forces, and following the Supreme Court's deliberations Sunday on Haredi conscription, IDI President Yohanan Plesner, who led a Knesset committee on the subject in the 18th Knesset said:

"We cannot permit discrimination by providing economic benefits to Haredi soldiers and not everybody else who serves in the IDF. The solution that was presented to the Supreme Court is unjustified and unethical. Implementing it could bring about the collapse of the cohesion and spirit of the IDF."

Plesner continued, "Reliance on economic incentives to raise the share of ultra-Orthodox men who join the IDF is reasonable and logical. Nonetheless, allocating financial benefits for soldiers, as well as for veterans, must be done with equal criteria. The granting of financial preferences to soldiers ought to be based on the significance and extent of the roles they fulfilled. As such, since it would require enlarging the defense budget by billions of shekels, the ability to expand economic incentives is by definition limited.

"Any serious plan that is intended to increase Haredi conscription through economic incentives must also include an element of negative incentives, meaning economic sanctions for those who choose not to serve."