Israeli Supreme Court Condemns Budget Discrimination Against Secular Education
The Israeli Supreme Court sharply criticized the budgetary discrimination against secular state education compared to religious state education during a hearing on Monday. Justice Yael Wilner emphasized that political influence should not affect funding, stating, "A child is a child is a child." Justice Ofer Groskopf added that administrative criteria cannot justify maintaining the funding gap.
Wilner warned that the court will not allow the state to delay addressing this critical issue, promising to set deadlines and monitor progress. The petitions were filed by the National Parents' Leadership and the Menor Center, represented by attorneys Asaf Benmelach and Haggai Klei, along with Knesset members Vladimir Beliak and Gilad Kariv. They argued that religious state education receives preferential budget treatment over secular and Arab state education.
The Ministry of Education acknowledged the clear budget bias in its response to the court and announced it is reviewing the legality of this discrimination. This review covers special funding such as extra hours for religious studies and budget allocations for small classes resulting from gender segregation. However, the prosecution requested an additional six months to complete the ministry’s examination, meaning the disparity will persist in the upcoming school year. Wilner stressed that the review must consider all aspects, including the opening of small schools.
The judges also criticized coalition funding practices, insisting that budget decisions must be based on formal procedures and regulations rather than political power. Oren Ozen, chair of the National Parents' Leadership, said the court made it clear that the systemic gaps in education funding can no longer be ignored. Michal Tavivian Mizrahi, CEO of the Menor Center, noted the court’s firm stance demanding urgent updates. Rami Hod, CEO of the Berl Katznelson Center, added that if the liberal public pressures political parties to prioritize education, religious affiliation will no longer dictate budget size.
