Finance Minister Yair Lapid responded to allegations of discrimination from the chareidi sector regarding his new plan to permit young couples to buy their first apartment without paying 18% value added tax.

If chareidim are seeking an apology, they have the wrong man for Lapid feels “I would be pleased to give the same discount to you too. All that is required to receive it is serving in the IDF or a recognized national service program”.

“The reduction in value added tax on the new apartments is not the goal, but a means” he writes on his Facebook page. “The goal was and remains reducing the price of apartments”.

“There are economists, politicians and interested person that oppose lowering the VAT. That is fine for lowering the VAT tax is not directed at the economists or politicians or the interested parties but for the young middle class couple that served in the IDF, that are working hard and raising their children with love but do not have enough to make the month”.

“These young couples are now aware that I meant every word I said, that the state is willing to lose billions of shekels towards lowering the price of apartments”.

Lapid added that the chareidim are not victims of discrimination, pointing out homes sold in that sector are already heavily discounted, unlike the same apartments in secular communities. He appointed out that an apartment selling for 1.2 million shekels in Bnei Brak would sell for 30% more in Ramat Gan and 86% more in Tel Aviv, hence the chareidim are already receiving a great deal.

In another example Lapid points out that a home in Modi’in will cost 64% more than a home in nearby Modi’in Illit, using a 1.7 million shekel apartment in Modi’in as an example.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)