Knesset panel approves budget transfer of NIS 270 million to haredi education during recess

The Knesset Finance Committee approved a budget transfer of approximately NIS 270 million to haredi education institutions during the Knesset recess, part of a larger NIS 1 billion allocation. Opposition lawmakers criticized the move, citing lack of core curriculum and conscription issues. The High Court will review the transfers on Wednesday.

The Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday approved the transfer of approximately NIS 270 million to haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education institutions amid the Knesset's recess ahead of the election. The approval came after a lengthy and stormy debate, with opposition lawmakers arguing the meeting should not take place during recess and that the process for convening was not carried out properly. The committee convened after Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) approved the meeting despite the lack of the usual required agreement from the Knesset's Coordination Committee. The committee approved approximately NIS 1 billion in budget allocations for the Education Ministry, the Settlement and National Missions Ministry, and the Religious Services Ministry. The funds allocated to the haredi education systems reportedly amounted to approximately NIS 270m. Degel Hatorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni welcomed the approval, stating that "when the world of Torah study and education faces significant difficulties, it is our duty to continue caring for Israel's children and the haredi education system." Opposition lawmakers sharply criticized the transfer, with a key point of contention being the allocation of funds to haredi institutions that often do not teach mandatory core curriculum subjects, along with the haredi conscription issue amid the IDF's severe manpower shortage. Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak stated that the government had "sold out Israelis who work and serve to Gafni and [Shas Party leader Arye] Deri," adding "They simply took your money, your children's money. hundreds of millions of shekels, and transferred it to draft dodgers." Democrats MK Naama Lazimi also criticized the transfer, saying "The draft-dodging government continues to loot the funds belonging to all of us." Supreme Court Justice Alex Stein ordered petitioners challenging the series of budget transfers to report back to the High Court of Justice by 9 a.m. Wednesday on the decisions approved during the committee's meeting. The decision keeps the urgent petition filed by the Hiddush religious-freedom organization and Lazimi before the court. The petition initially challenged proposed transfers totaling more than NIS 360m., including approximately NIS 280m. that the petitioners said was intended for haredi and religious educational institutions. The petitioners argue that convening the committee violated the Knesset's rules for the election recess. The case comes against the background of an earlier legal dispute over a NIS 1.08b. education transfer approved by the Finance Committee on December 25, 2025.