Finance Minister Smotrich Allocates 70 Million NIS to Prevent Cuts in National Service Positions

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has ordered an immediate allocation of over 70 million shekels to avert cuts in thousands of national service positions, ensuring full salaries for female national service members during the 2023-2024 school year. This one-time budget increase will be added to the Ministry of Education's funding to address the crisis following the placement of service members in educational institutions. The move aims to prevent the planned reduction of approximately 2,000 national service positions within the Ministry of Education's national service division.

Following this emergency funding, the Ministry of Education's Budget and Economics Administration will collaborate with the Finance Ministry's Budget Department to develop a permanent funding framework, including budget classification and potential government approval. Smotrich's office emphasized that this decision reflects recognition of the national service program's importance, which operates in special education, boarding schools, immigrant absorption, and other sectors.

Earlier reports highlighted concerns about the reduction of about half the national service education positions despite increasing demand among female participants. Eran Valak, CEO of the "Bat Ami" National Service Association, warned that losing 2,000 service positions would significantly reduce educational support and create uncertainty for coordinators and service members just weeks before the school year begins. He stressed that many women might seek alternative opportunities, which would negatively impact the education system that relies heavily on national service personnel.