High Court Releases Frozen Funds for Haredi Education

Israel's High Court of Justice has ordered the release of 286 million shekels in frozen funds designated for Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education. The funds, which include salaries for kindergarten teachers, were initially frozen by the Knesset's Finance Committee following a petition against coalition fund transfers.

The court's decision is seen as a significant achievement for MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Finance Committee, and for the Knesset's legal advisor, Sagit Afek, who supported the transfer of funds. The release allows for the continuation of budget allocations that were halted due to judicial intervention.

This ruling stems from an interim order and a show-cause order issued by the High Court regarding coalition fund transfers. The court had previously demanded explanations from the Finance Committee chairman and the Ministry of Finance as to why these transfers should not be canceled, while simultaneously preventing their execution pending a final decision.

The funds in question were approved by the Knesset Finance Committee on August 4, 2026. The total amount comprises two separate transfers to the Ministry of Education, both intended for the Haredi education sector. The main transfer was 270 million shekels, covering budget requests 151 to 153, alongside an additional 16 million shekels for requests 101 to 106.