Israel Faces Budget Shortfall for Haredi Sector Without Coalition Funds
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Israel is facing a potential budget continuation in less than two months, threatening the Haredi sector with the loss of approximately 535 million shekels in coalition funds. This financial pressure could impact seminaries, youth groups, and educational institutions. Additionally, yeshiva funding may drop significantly due to ongoing conscription issues. Haredi men evading military service are already facing economic sanctions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's potential budget continuation threatens the Haredi sector with a loss of 535 million shekels.
- Haredi seminaries, youth organizations, and educational institutions face funding cuts.
- Yeshiva funding could drop to 300-700 million shekels in a continuing budget.
- Haredi men evading military service are subject to economic sanctions.
- The situation may pressure Haredi lawmakers to seek alternative government formations.
Israel is projected to enter a continuing budget period in less than two months, a situation that poses significant financial risks to the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. This budget continuation means the absence of coalition funds, which are a primary source of funding for many initiatives championed by Haredi parties. The potential loss of these funds, estimated at approximately 535 million shekels, could impact various sectors including seminaries, youth organizations, and educational institutions.
This financial threat may explain the pressure from some Haredi lawmakers to explore forming a government led by National Unity Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot, thereby avoiding further elections. A continuing budget operates on a partial basis, with monthly allocations based on the previous year's budget. Even with a new government formed soon, it is likely that a continuing budget will be unavoidable for some time due to the lengthy process of approving a new budget, though forming a government could shorten this period.
Specific programs at risk include Haredi seminaries (around 100 million shekels), incentives for educational institutions (around 100 million shekels), Haredi youth organizations (around 85 million shekels), Jewish-Haredi culture (around 80 million shekels), summer programs and daycare centers (around 70 million shekels), the "Education for Youth" program (around 50 million shekels), administrative staff in certain institutions (around 30 million shekels), and programs for at-risk youth (around 20 million shekels).
These potential cuts add to existing reductions in budgets and benefits for the Haredi community. Previous budget cuts to yeshivas, from 1.7 billion shekels to 1.1 billion, were implemented due to the failure to enact a conscription law, in accordance with High Court of Justice and Attorney General directives. In a continuing budget, yeshiva funding could plummet further to between 300 and 700 million shekels. The funding level for yeshivas is determined by the number of eligible students, which is decreasing as the state enforces conscription more broadly and expands the definition of draft dodgers.
Furthermore, Haredi men who are obligated to enlist but have not regularized their status are already facing economic sanctions, including the loss of daycare subsidies, national insurance benefits, and housing discounts. Future sanctions may include exemptions from municipal property taxes, daycare, and public transportation.
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