Jerusalem, 15 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Hofshit (Free Israel) movement filed an urgent petition with the High Court of Justice on Sunday against Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, demanding an immediate halt to municipal funding for yeshivas and kollelim (religious higher education) attended by men evading mandatory military service.
The petition argues that despite previous court rulings prohibiting public funding for draft evaders, local authorities continue providing institutions with financial support, property tax exemptions, valuable land and buildings, and funding for events and activities.
According to the petition, 48 of 50 nonprofit organizations operating yeshivas and kollelim received approximately NIS 61 million ($18.5 million) from local authorities in 2024. Jerusalem alone granted such institutions approximately NIS 17 million ($5.2 million) in property tax exemptions in a single year.
The movement is also seeking to bar municipalities and municipal corporations from employing draft evaders, in line with existing restrictions on employment in the civil service.