The Israel Land Authority Council has approved new rules barring individuals classified as draft evaders from participating in the government’s discounted housing programs unless they regularize their military status with the IDF.

The decision, approved during a meeting convened by Housing Minister Chaim Katz, also significantly expands housing preferences for reserve soldiers. Under the new framework, 50 percent of apartments in the upcoming “Dira B’Hanachah” lottery will be reserved exclusively for reservists, with priority given to combat soldiers.

The remaining apartments will remain available to the general public, but eligibility will now depend on applicants having resolved their military status with the army, according to a report by Channel 13 News.

The move follows legal instructions issued by the attorney general’s office directing immediate implementation of the policy. As a result, individuals defined as draft-eligible who have not arranged their status with IDF authorities will no longer be able to participate in subsidized housing programs.

The decision comes after the most recent housing lottery was postponed twice. Initially, the delay was ordered by ministers Betzalel Smotrich and Chaim Katz, and later by the courts following petitions filed against the program.

Deputy Attorney General Gil Limon had previously instructed the Israel Land Authority Council to take immediate operational steps to enforce the policy. Under those instructions, the authority was required to establish a mechanism allowing for the immediate disqualification of draft evaders from participation in discounted housing initiatives.

According to the approved plan, all applicants entering future lotteries will be required to sign declarations stating whether they have arranged their military status with the IDF. Any applicant found to have submitted false information could lose their eligibility or forfeit an apartment if their true military status later becomes known.

Approximately 8,000 apartments are expected to be included in the upcoming lottery, though the distribution model will change dramatically under the new rules.

More than half of the apartments will now be allocated to reservists, who will also receive all units designated specifically for rental programs.

{Matzav.com}