Report: Government Housing Subsidies Disproportionately Favor Haredim

Government housing discounts that were meant to benefit all sectors of Israeli society have been disproportionately awarded to haredim, even though Israel's affordable housing shortage has devastated many secular and Zionist Orthodox families, as well. And who made these disproportionate grants to haredim, who make up less than 10% of Israel's population? Israel's haredi Minister of Housing and Construction, Ariel Atias.

Globes reports:

Even as the Ministry of Housing and Construction late last week proudly presented the results of its "price for resident" housing tenders in Yokne'am, and boasted that the tenders closed at a 20% discount - NIS 186,000 per unit - on the market price, no one bothered to mention that the ministry closed similar tenders in Betar Illit, Efrat, and Jerusalem's Har Homa neighborhood - all areas intended for haredi (ultra-orthodox) and religious residents at discounts of 35-63% on the market price, or NIS 530,000-710,000 per unit.

A source involved in the tenders said, "It turns out that too big discounts are being granted to a too limited public, at a time with it is not clear if there are any discounts at all in tenders for the general population."…

And who is the Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Construction?

Ariel Atias of the Sefardic haredi Shas political party.

Comments

[Nathan]

How does the government determine just who is a haredi before they give them more money? Do hassidim get more than a person who is haredi but not hassidic?

[jancsibacsi]

Nathan-They determine it by measuring the lengh of their payes and beard the payes must be over a foot long.:)

[Garnel Ironheart]

Chareidi government official is biased towards his own group and helps them disproportionately at the expense of other groups in society.

How is this news?

[seymour]

Chareidi government official is biased towards his own group and helps them disproportionately at the expense of other groups in society.

How is this news?

Posted by: Garnel Ironheart | August 23, 2012 at 07:50 AM

it is news since everybody is supposed to treated fairly

it is like if welfare payments would be higher for whites than blacks

[Anita]

We have a problem here in the US, many government programs tend to favor the poor over the middle class and rich. Bummer!

[Garnel Ironheart]

Actually Anita the problem is that many government programs tend to favour the civil servants running them over the citizens they're supposed to be helping.

[Alter Kocker]

Fairness would be welcomed in Israel, however since the Netanyahu government is forever pandering to the Shas, UTJ and every other black hat party, it stands to reason that their constituents would receive favored treatment.

One guesses that the seculars are needed to support the Haredim. Their taxes feed, clothe, provide healthcare, housing while the Haredim provide...TOYREH LEARNING! Let's all clap and dance (not mixed) because Israel is supported by TOYREH LEARNING!

[jancsibacsi]

Alter Kocker--Youre good hahaha

[seymour]

Posted by: Alter Kocker | August 23, 2012 at 09:26 AM

not only Israel but the whole world remember the whole universe only exists that people should learn torah

[seymour]

We have a problem here in the US, many government programs tend to favor the poor over the middle class and rich. Bummer!

Posted by: Anita | August 23, 2012 at 09:04 AM

please the poor yes but not the poor of a certain sector like in Israel

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

Listen, I hear the argument about torah. Haredim are more than welcome to build things on their own dime and issue vouchers based on amount and quality of torah learning. These vouchers could then be used to buy housing.

But the torah argument is impossible to defend with the non-haredi poor who are cheated out of housing because of discrimination in how the housing is distributed.

[dh]

Garnel @ 9:07

Well, I have to agree with you there. Personally I favor a Constitutional Amendment tossing the Post Office. I fervently hope the DMV follows.

[A Yid]

Shmaryah since according to you even the US policy most be based on the Torah (as can be seen in your previous post about the upcoming elections and many other posts like that) to be consistent you must apply same rules to Eretz Yistael in fact more so.
So to begin with you should advocate a Jewish theocracy a place where Cohanim, Leviim and Torah scholars will get special privileges over non Jewish ahmharatzim and apikorsim.
No? Then stop the hypocrisy of trying to selectively apply halacha to US elections when you don't believe in halacha!

[Shmarya]

Posted by: A Yid | August 23, 2012 at 01:51 PM

Does idiocy run in your family? Or is it just you?

Quite clearly, I'm not advocating any type of theocracy.

I'm simply explaining how Judaism views particular issues. And quite often, how it views issues is not how you view issues – and that's because there is really very little Jewish about you.

[David]

As everywhere else Charedim consume a disproportionate share of resources because BY THEIR OWN CHOICE (and against true Torah) they refuse to educate themselves or their children or learn the language of the land in which they live.

If they are not prepared to educate themselves and their children they should not be eligible for welfare programs. If they won't educate their children then the children need to be removed from their custody.

[David]

Let's all clap and dance (not mixed)

Posted by: Alter Kocker | August 23, 2012 at 09:26 AM

Phew! I'm glad you qualified that!

[God is not amused]

The party is over. Tax reform in the US is on the horizon. Politicians that favor the Haredi are on the way out. The Haredi can breed 2 Billion won't amount to a hill of beans if they have no patronage because the US populous is GOING to take the tax$$$$ out of the hands of the politician. The US populous has had it with politicians who tax, tax and spend. THE PARTY IS OVER HAREDI. You slime of humanity. How dare you pray to God and spit in his face by lying, stealing and cheating as a way of life, EVERYDAY of your stinking existence. What philosphy is that you justify this with???
Did Shneerson say it is alright, it is only the goyim you are stealing from??? yes he did din't he? despicable. GOD clearly stated stealing is a sin, no matter from whom.

[God is not amused]

Kiryas Joel is section 8 housing subsidised(welfare pays part of rent)....those are public monies therefore those housing should be given to anyone, BUT KJ REDLINES(discriminates and won't rent to non Satmars which is ILLEGAL.)
Wait till the Black Panther Brothers realize that KJ has BRAND new section 8 housing that they won't rent to Blacks/Hispanics who are diverted to hovels by those in housing dept., that get paid off to keep the Blacks/Hispanics on welfare OUT OF KJ SECTION 8 HOUSING.
I'd give anything to see Black panthers going through KJ ranting no justice no peace. KJ leaders are so slimy they actually hire Blakc gangbangers as body guards for the big muckety-mucks of KJ.
You can always tell the caliber of a person by whom they associate with. KJ leaders with gangbangers how appropriate.