Hundreds of Millions at Stake: Finance Committee Convenes During Recess, Contrary to Precedent

The Knesset Finance Committee will convene this morning during the election recess for an exceptional session to approve budget transfers totaling hundreds of millions of shekels, intended mainly for the Haredi sector and Religious Zionism. MKs Farkash-Hacohen and Lazimi have approached the legal counsel demanding the session be halted, arguing that opposition consent is required.

The Knesset Finance Committee will convene this morning (Tuesday) during the election recess for an exceptional session aimed at approving a series of budget transfers totaling hundreds of millions of shekels. The funds are intended mainly for the Haredi sector and the Religious Zionism parties, including transfers to yeshivas that have been accused of encouraging draft evasion, and to the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions headed by Minister Orit Strock. The convening of the committee at this time is considered exceptional and is carried out contrary to the accepted practice in the Knesset during previous election campaigns. The move is drawing strong opposition from the opposition: MKs Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Naama Lazimi have urgently approached the Knesset's legal counsel to prevent the session from taking place, arguing that holding sessions during an election period requires prior opposition consent. They sharply criticized the attempt to approve the funds at this time and stressed that these are public funds, saying: "This money belongs to all of us."