Knesset in Recess – Money Keeps Flowing: The Haredi Budget Deal

The Knesset Finance Committee is expected to approve budget transfers totaling hundreds of millions of shekels to the Haredi sector, educational networks, and Hilltop Youth, despite the Knesset entering an election recess. Among the requests: 76.6 million shekels for promoting Haredi employment, 62.5 million for the Haredi national service, 67.5 million for Hilltop Youth, and 13.5 million for building Haredi schools. Additionally, 90.2 million shekels were approved for coalition funds in culture and sports.

The Knesset Finance Committee continues to operate at full capacity even after the Knesset entered an election recess, and intends to approve budget transfers totaling hundreds of millions of shekels. The bulk of the funds are earmarked for the Haredi and religious sectors, educational networks, and Hilltop Youth. Notable requests include: 76.6 million shekels for promoting employment among designated populations, mainly in the Haredi community; 62.5 million shekels for funding the cost of national service in the Haredi sector; 67.5 million shekels for responses for Hilltop Youth; and 13.5 million shekels for building schools in the Haredi sector. In the field of culture and sports, requests were submitted for transferring coalition funds totaling approximately 90.2 million shekels, including budgets for the urban culture basket, public institutions, the Zalman Shazar Center, the ANU Museum, and Torah research institutes. Meanwhile, the Knesset plenum will convene for a special recess session to discuss various bills, including extending the temporary order in the Prisons Ordinance and emergency regulations in Swords of Iron. The article presents these transfers as part of a "budget deal" for the Haredim, using the term "deal" in the headline, but does not bring reactions from opposing parties or an analysis of the broader budgetary implications.