High Court orders release of frozen budgets for Haredi educational institutions

Israel's High Court of Justice canceled the freeze on budgets for Haredi educational institutions and ordered the release of 286 million shekels. The decision came after petitions against Knesset Finance Committee transfers from August. The funds are intended for kindergarten teacher salaries, transportation, and after-school program subsidies. The Knesset legal adviser supported the budget release, and the Education Minister and chairman of Degel HaTorah welcomed the decision.

Israel's High Court of Justice ruled on Thursday to cancel the freeze on budgets for Haredi educational institutions and ordered the release of 286 million shekels that had been delayed following petitions against Knesset Finance Committee transfers from August. The decision came after weeks of political and legal tension. The funds are allocated to the Education Ministry for sectoral institutions and include transportation budgets, after-school program subsidies, and payment of kindergarten teacher and teaching staff salaries. Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik submitted a firm position demanding the petition be rejected, arguing that no flaw was found in the process of convening the Finance Committee. Education Minister Yoav Kisch welcomed the decision, noting that these are essential budgets. Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni also expressed satisfaction, calling the petition "vexatious and unnecessary."