BREAKING NEWS

'Coalition deal to cost haredi families NIS 6,000 a month'

Haredi newspaper Mishpachah reported today that the coalition agreement will cost haredi (ultra-orthodox) families an average of NIS 6,000 monthly in benefits. The paper says that the overall damage to the haredi sector will be NIS 2.3 billion and calculates that this will cost the average family NIS 71,000 annually.
The newspaper also reported on the government's plans to make fitness to earn a livelihood as a main criterion in the Ministry of Housing and Construction's subsidized mortgage program for young couples. At present in tenders for discounted apartments haredim receive preferential treatment but the introduction of such a clause would cancel this.
Hiddush for Religious Freedom and Equality deputy CEO Shahar Ilan said, "The Israeli public made it clear in the elections that it is not prepared to carry on financing tens of thousands of families of yeshiva students that have chosen not to work. It is to be hoped that Finance Minister Yair Lapid will follow through quickly on his commitments to make housing and welfare benefits contingent upon the ability to earn a livelihood as is acceptable elsewhere in the world. Only in such a way will it be possible to get most haredi men out to work.