Yesterday the Israel Land Board decided to split the upcoming "Apartment at a Discount" lottery into two separate lotteries. The first for 4,000 units, will be designated for reservists only, at least half of whom are in combat roles, and will get underway next week, with registration opening on May 25th, 2026.

Another lottery also for 4,000 units, which is intended for the general public, will be delayed until the government decides how it intends to deal with the High Court ruling, according to which these lotteries - which give a discount of hundreds of thousands of shekels - should not include young people who have evaded military service.  

This development follows two postponements of the opening of registration for the original lottery, which was supposed to include 8,000 discounted apartments in 19 localities across the country, including: Beit Shemesh, Ashdod, Beit Dagan, Kfar Manda, Kfar Saba, Ma'ale Adumim, Nahariya, Rishon Lezion, Rehovot, Bnei Aish, Bat Hefer and Rechasim.  The first postponement, from mid-April, was made in order to implement the Minister of Housing's "From Reserves to Key" initiative, in which 50% of all apartments will be designated for reserve personnel. At the end of April, the opening of the lottery was frozen once again, under the guidance of the legal advice at the Ministry of Justice, following the decision of the RAMI Council according to which in tenders in areas with a Haredi character, the increased allocation of 50% would not apply to reservist, and the rate would remain at 35% in accordance with the previous policy. 

50% for reservists - even in Haredi communities
It was decided that the previous council's decision on a reduced allocation to reservists in Haredi localities will be amended so that in all localities, the preference for reservists will increase from 35% to 50%.

Minister of Construction and Housing, Haim Katz said following the meeting that "the only thing that is clear right now is that there are reservists who are being denied rights, and the goal is to allow them to exercise their rights immediately. We will work with the army and obtain data and do everything in an orderly manner, and not politically motivated. Until that happens, I will not allow further delays! Reservists left home, family and work to serve the country, and our commitment is to ensure that the state stands behind them even on the day after their service."