Reservists to be granted increased housing benefits under new government plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have unveiled a new government plan on Sunday aimed at enhancing housing benefits for IDF reservists. Dubbed "From Reserve Duty to a Key," the program seeks to provide around 20,000 housing solutions, comprising 16,000 apartments, between 2026 and 2027.

A key aspect of the plan is the increased priority in apartment discount lotteries, with plans to raise the percentage of reservist winners and increase the overall value of the discounts to more than NIS 500,000. Currently, 25,354 reservists participated in the latest lottery, with 4,734 of them emerging as winners.

Katz commended the lottery system, stating that an additional 20,000 units will be added to the lottery pool. He emphasized that the state will reciprocate its support to reservists, who he considered the country's main resource. Reservists who choose to construct housing will also receive higher benefits and will be exempted from the cost of land value.

The initiative, hailed as a historic move by Netanyahu, acknowledges the sacrifices of reservists who dedicate everything for the nation's security. To date, the government has transferred over NIS 25 billion in benefits to reservists and their families. Smotrich described the plan as just a portion of a broader gesture of appreciation towards the country's soldiers, who have received extensive support since the onset of the war.