Welfare Ministry Warns Budget Cuts Are 'Death Sentence'
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Israel's Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs is facing a NIS 160 million budget cut, despite pleas to the Ministry of Finance to prevent it. The funds were designated for vulnerable populations, including at-risk youth and victims of violence. Ministry officials warn the cuts will cripple their ability to provide essential services, especially amid rising demand.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Welfare Ministry warned that budget cuts are a 'death sentence' for its programs.
- The ministry faces an additional NIS 160 million cut, impacting vulnerable populations.
- This cut follows a previous reduction of approximately NIS 400 million.
- For the first time, the Welfare Ministry was included in cross-departmental budget cuts.
- The Ministry of Finance cited unspecified 'security needs' for the cuts.
Senior officials from Israel's Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs have urgently appealed to the Ministry of Finance to prevent planned budget cuts, but their request was denied. The Welfare Ministry is now facing an additional 5% cut, amounting to NIS 160 million, which is designated for vulnerable populations including at-risk youth, people with disabilities, the elderly, and women who are survivors of violence. This new cut follows an earlier reduction of approximately NIS 400 million from the ministry's budget.
For the first time, the Welfare Ministry has been included in the cross-departmental budget cuts, a departure from the usual practice of exempting social welfare services to avoid harming those in need. The Ministry of Finance stated that the cuts are being considered for "security needs," but has not provided specific details about these requirements.
In response, the Welfare Ministry is sounding the alarm about the severe difficulties they anticipate in providing services. A senior official told N12, "Precisely at a time when there is a dramatic increase in demand for welfare assistance due to the situation, they are leaving us with no ability to provide a professional response. This is a death sentence for all the programs meant to help citizens in need."
