Finance Ministry officials have reportedly presented Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara with data showing that existing government regulations substantially favor ultra-Orthodox Israelis, who are far more likely to qualify for government subsidies than other Jewish citizens.
The figures were included in a document presented to various government offices as part of the attorney general’s demand to bolster enforcement against ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, Channel 12 reported. They come amid an ongoing debate in Israeli society over whether Haredim must serve in the military, and over the government benefits afforded to them.
The data showed that an ultra-Orthodox family has a 72 percent chance of qualifying for reductions to their municipal property taxes, while other Jewish households only have a 17% chance of receiving such government subsidies.
Twenty-four percent of ultra-Orthodox homeowners receive favorable mortgage terms, compared to just 2% of all other Jewish homeowners, the reported figures showed. Twenty-one percent of Haredim have subsidized rent, compared to just 1% of other Jewish renters.
Ninety-five percent of Haredim are eligible for reductions to public transportation fees, compared to 23% of the rest of the Jewish public.
