In April 2021, then-Interior Minister Aryeh Deri initiated a program in which valuable coupons for food and other goods in supermarkets were distributed to underprivileged residents of Israel. Any resident receiving a discount on arnona (property tax) was automatically eligible for this program.
At the time, Chaim V’Chessed reported that non-citizens who were residents of Israel and met the program’s criteria; i.e. they received arnona discounts – were originally prohibited from receiving these coupons, despite seemingly being eligible. Chaim V’Chessed interfaced extensively at the time with Interior Ministry officials. When these pleas fell upon deaf ears, the organization was forced to engage a top-flight law firm who sent a strongly-worded missive to the Interior Ministry, accusing the program of being in violation of Israeli law. As a result of these efforts, the Interior Ministry caved and began granting these coupons to non-citizen residents as well.
History repeats itself. In August, current Interior Minister Moshe Arbel reinstated the food coupon program. Once again, all who are eligible for discounts on their arnona bills are eligible to receive the coupons. Shortly thereafter, various municipalities began advertising the program. Lo and behold, announcements stated clearly that passport holders (i.e. non-citizen residents) are not eligible.
Within days, Chaim V’Chessed was contacted by dozens of residents who had attempted to obtain these valuable coupons and had been rejected. Chaim V’Chessed immediately contacted Ministry officials, and Knesset members as well. MK Yitzchak Pindrus especially has taken a great interest in resolving this issue.
Despite the combined efforts, the Interior Ministry has not budged. In light of this, Chaim V’Chessed once again engaged Arnon and Co. to investigate the eligibility rules. The prestigious firm discovered that, according to regulations, it is clear that all toshavim (residents) ought to be eligible for this sizable grant. Last week, the legal team, headed by attorney Nir Rosner, sent a sharp letter to the Interior Ministry demanding an immediate rectification of this situation. It is our hope that the Interior Ministry will resolve this matter in a fair and timely fashion.
To better lobby for a change, Chaim V’Chessed is collecting the details of non-citizen residents who should be eligible for this program. If this applies to you, please click here to submit your details. All information will remain confidential.
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6 Responses
what a bunch of garbage. So not only do we have to support these non-citizens by actually paying the arnona that they dont, now they want us to pay for their food as well??
Mind you, these are mostly people who come to israel and choose to learn for a few years before they go back “home” to America, AND often times they live in massive and expensive apartments which are paid for by parents while they honeymoon in israel. But because they are technically in learning full-time, they are eligible for arnona discounts while the rest of the public works hard to support ourselves and them.
Its a busha and part of the reason why the israeli public has a very negative feeling towards this lifestyle…CHILUL HASHEM.
Go find lucrative employment or find some ways to make money on the side, support yourself, pay your fair share like the rest of us and learn Torah like the rest of us.
Huh
Since when are countries required to provide the same level of aid etc to non citizens as their own citizens.
In America the frum media seems to perpetually be lauding politicians who shout from the rooftops, how the democrats give non Americans ie: migrants, shelter and food.
Now that Israel doesn’t treat those who don’t want to live as Israeli citizens it somehow is discriminatory.
@Ashifromrockland
akshually… in the us too we have the 14th amendment which prohibits discriminating in favor of citizens vs legal noncitizen residents. You’re confusing the issue by bringing up illegal aliens.
@Oh, people should take whatever they’re entitled to under the law, no chillul hashem there.
@Oh. you stupidly say both the wealthy parents of students as well as israelis are supporting them. Well, which is it?
I’m pretty sure the tourism and education (that these programs buttrice) bring in a lot more $$$ to Israel than they give out in stipends and other support.
@Ashifromrockland you can be both for changing laws and against illegal activity at the same time. it’s not a binary choice. socialism can be bad legal policy, not letting people get their legal benefits can also be bad behavior.
Just to clarify.
In Israel, a legal resident of a municipality pays municipal property taxes and votes in municipal elections regardless of their citizenship. Therefore, since this program is legally mandated to be provided by the municipality there is no reason why non-citizens who vote and pay taxes in their municipality should be discriminated against for any program provided by that municipality.
As far as a drain on the economy? There is probably no larger input of foreign currency to the Israeli economy than the chutznik community. Every dollar they are provided from abroad is injected into the economy. Even the kollel stipend is more than likely money that was donated from abroad.