The ‘Dira BaHanacha’ website has been temporarily closed: thousands of Israelis cannot renew their eligibility certificates

Israel suspended the operations of the Dira BaAhnacha subsidized housing portal. The Ministry of Construction and Housing, along with the Land Authority, took the website offline to synchronize their databases with the military. The maintenance follows a High Court of Justice ruling that strips state benefits from religious students evading IDF conscription. The Justice Ministry mandated the immediate removal of these individuals from all housing lottery registries.

The system shutdown directly affects thousands of eligible Israeli citizens. Applicants whose eligibility certificates expire in the coming days cannot renew their documents or submit new applications. This technical lockout automatically disqualifies them from participating in imminent subsidized apartment draws. The disruption has sparked significant backlash from IDF reservists and their families, who view the bureaucratic delay as an unfair collective punishment.

Government officials have not provided a definitive timeline for the completion of the database cross-referencing. Initial estimates indicate the data verification process requires substantial time. The portal is unlikely to resume accepting applications or processing certificate renewals before the conclusion of the Jewish autumn holidays. Meanwhile, program participants remain forced to pay full market rent without progressing in the subsidized housing queue.

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