Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday offered ultra-Orthodox men an incentive to join the workforce by halving the hours spent in religious study in return for the same state stipend, although the plan was condemned by community leaders.
Around half of ultra-Orthodox men work, with the rest studying for 40 hours a week in seminaries - a practice dating back to the formation of the state of Israel when they were allowed to forego work and military service as their population was small.
