Israeli Knesset Finance Committee to Approve Billions in Transfers Before Elections

The Knesset Finance Committee is scheduled to convene next Wednesday, following Yom Kippur and before the Sukkot holiday, to approve the transfer of approximately 15 billion shekels that have been stalled since August 2. The committee will also address several other financial transfers.

A significant portion, nearly 14.75 billion shekels, is designated for the defense establishment to cover security tensions and the costs of tens of thousands of reservists. This includes about 11.5 billion shekels previously submitted for approval a month and a half ago, with an additional 3 billion shekels added recently.

However, a larger request from the IDF for over 25 billion shekels remains unresolved due to disagreements between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid regarding funding sources.

Other approved transfers include 72 million shekels for the Ministry of National Security for its headquarters, the Community Security Authority, and a firefighting squadron. The Ministry of Jerusalem and Tradition will receive 46 million shekels for infrastructure at the Mount Meron lighting ceremony and the annual pilgrimage. The Ministry of Welfare will get 6 million shekels from the state budget's general reserve for at-risk youth, specifically "a response to disconnected Haredi youth in the community."

Additional funds are allocated for strengthening older residential buildings along the northern border near Lebanon. The National Insurance Institute will receive 164 million shekels for benefit payments, including return grants for those displaced by war. The Survey of Israel will get 25 million shekels plus a commitment for another 22 million for five personnel positions to map areas C and East Jerusalem. The Ministry of Finance will receive 800 million shekels, with 630 million for the compensation fund, and COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories) will receive 38.6 million shekels.