Israel Bars Draft Evaders From Subsidized Housing Lotteries

Enforcing a High Court order, the change uses IDF records to bar unresolved draft evaders and their spouses from subsidized housing as a first step toward broader sanctions.

Overview

The Israel Land Authority formally adopted the policy on Monday, May 25, 2026, amending regulations to require IDF data showing that neither an applicant nor a spouse is listed as an unresolved draft evader before they may enter discounted housing lotteries.
Under the new rule a 4,000-unit reservist housing lottery will proceed immediately while a separate 4,000-unit general-public lottery is paused pending receipt of IDF records to screen out ineligible applicants.
The Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Gil Lemon, is reviewing whether the ban applies retroactively to people who already won lotteries but have not yet signed purchase contracts.
The High Court framed the measures as revocation of discretionary state benefits rather than removal of legal rights and indicated these steps are an initial phase with more enforcement options possible.
The policy is aimed largely at charedi draft evaders, has provoked urgent Knesset demands and community objections, and could widen to other state discounts such as daycare, transport, and municipal tax breaks if further measures are approved.