The Knesset Finance Committee approved around half a billion shekels to be transferred from the state budget to various ultra-Orthodox education and culture programs on Tuesday.
Some of the initiatives to receive the funds are: the New Horizons program, which encourages teachers to work in haredi schools (NIS 700m.), support for haredi primary schools for boys (NIS 10.1m.), programs that work with ultra-Orthodox youths at-risk (NIS 56m.), and stipends for students from abroad studying in haredi schools (NIS 60m.).
Another NIS 21m. has been allocated to organizations that help ultra-Orthodox youth delay their IDF service, usually to the point that the youths end up not serving in the military. A further NIS 20m. will go to pre-army yeshivas for infrastructure and renovations.
Opposition members in the committee argued against transferring the funds, claiming that they were not legal because they are dedicated almost entirely to the haredi sector and are a misuse of government funds.
“The government and the coalition continue looting the public treasury and transferring hundreds of millions of shekels for sectorial gains,” said Labor MK Gilad Kariv. “These fund transfers only prove that the liberal public in Israel is under attack.”
Additionally, opposition members argued that some of the funds were being taken from a budget that was set aside to build new classrooms that are greatly needed across the education system. In response, representatives from the Education and Finance ministries claimed that all the money was being taken from funds set aside for “coalition agreements” in the budget, and that money taken from the classrooms fund would be returned.
Frustration at the funds
Committee Chairman Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) also expressed frustration at the confusion and the existence of a fund for coalition agreements.
“I want what is necessary to be at the base of the budget,” he said. “Whatever isn’t necessary, shouldn’t make it in. Just so there is no misunderstanding – I know I have to live with it now, but make no mistake, I didn’t stay silent. I’m embarrassed by the fact that I need to argue this.”
Another complaint was the fact that part of the new funds would go to haredi youths who are dropping out of school. Various committee members said the money was needed just as much, if not more, by youth dropping out of schools in other sectors.
Coalition committee members responded to the accusation by charging that the opposition members did the same sectorial prioritizing when they were in the government.
Also in the meeting, NIS 816m. was approved for local authorities, including NIS 200m. to local Arab authorities. However, according to the Finance Ministry representative, the money will only be released once a mechanism is set up to supervise how these funds are used.
The decision to withhold the funds enraged Arab committee members, who accused the government of treating Arab local authorities differently from other authorities.
“Also, the Druze authorities are suffering from crime,” said Hadash-Ta’al MK Ahmad Tibi. “So why are they delaying funds for the Arab authorities for the same reason?”