Even During Elections: New Funds Approved for Political Purposes

The Knesset Finance Committee is convening to approve transfers of 16 billion shekels, including 653 million shekels in coalition funds primarily intended for the ultra-Orthodox sector and Religious Zionism. The opposition claims this exceeds the committee's authority and threatens to petition the High Court of Justice.

The Knesset Finance Committee is convening today (Wednesday, July 29, 2026) to approve budget transfers totaling approximately 16 billion shekels, despite the Knesset being dissolved and the country being in an election recess. Of the total amount, about 653 million shekels are coalition funds primarily intended for the ultra-Orthodox sector and Religious Zionism. Key transfers include: 124 million shekels to the Settlement Ministry of Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionism), 75 million shekels to the Heritage Ministry of Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit), 69 million shekels to non-official recognized education of Shas and Agudat Yisrael, and 65.4 million shekels to settlement education. Opposition representatives on the committee – Vladimir Beliak, Naor Shiri, and Orit Farkash HaCohen – argue that distributing funds of this magnitude during an election period exceeds the committee's authority and raises concerns that the funds will be used for political purposes. Last week, Beliak and Shiri approached the legal advisor demanding a halt to some transfers, and now they are threatening to petition the High Court of Justice.