Victory for the Democrats: High Court halts Knesset Finance Committee 'looting' with judicial order

The High Court of Justice issued a temporary order freezing all fund transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee, following a petition by MK Naama Lazimi and attorney Yifat Solel. Justice Alex Stein ordered this today. Lazimi argued the move was to prevent 'daylight robbery' of public funds and an attempt to empty the coffers for cronies. Committee chairman Milivitsky called protesters 'worse than the nakba'.

The High Court of Justice issued a temporary order freezing all fund transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee, following a petition filed by MK Naama Lazimi (The Democrats) and attorney Yifat Solel (Hiddush organization). Justice Alex Stein ordered the order today (Wednesday). Lazimi argued that this is an attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to commit 'election bribery' and funnel hundreds of millions of shekels to affiliated sectors to save his bloc before the elections. Committee chairman, MK Hanoch Milivitsky from Likud, said of the protesters that they are 'worse than the nakba'. Lazimi welcomed the decision as an 'important achievement' in the fight against emptying the public coffers. The article reports on a stormy committee discussion yesterday, in which Lazimi sharply attacked the transfers.