Knesset advances ultra-Orthodox daycare subsidy bill after haredi threat to back Oct. 7 probe

The Knesset plenum has advanced a bill that alters eligibility criteria for daycare subsidies, basing them solely on a mother's income. This move has drawn criticism, with opponents arguing it could lead to state subsidies for parents of individuals evading military service, a significant concern given the IDF's current manpower shortage.

The legislation, titled "Law on Admission of a Child to a Daycare Center and State Participation in Tuition Costs," was sponsored by MK Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism and other ultra-Orthodox lawmakers. It passed its preliminary reading by a vote of 44-37 after a contentious session. The bill now proceeds to the Knesset House Committee for further debate before needing to pass three more plenum readings to become law.

Ahead of the vote, Gafni reportedly threatened to vote with the opposition on bills establishing a state commission of inquiry into government failures on October 7. This threat was aimed at ensuring the coalition supported the daycare subsidies legislation. In response, the Knesset's agenda was rearranged to prioritize the daycare bill, leading the opposition to withdraw its October 7 probe bills after the subsidies bill passed.

The bill's core proposal is to consider only the mother's employment or educational status for subsidy eligibility, excluding the father's status. This would enable children of ultra-Orthodox men who do not serve in the IDF and are unemployed to receive daycare subsidies. The vote occurred amidst ongoing tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, which has seen the ultra-Orthodox parties pushing for the Knesset's dissolution.