Israeli Coalition Rushes Budget Transfers and Religious Legislation Ahead of Knesset Dissolution

In the final days before the Knesset dissolves on Thursday ahead of the October 27 elections, the Israeli coalition is rapidly pushing through budget transfers and religious legislation in the Finance Committee. These moves are part of a deal between ultra-Orthodox parties and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This week, the Knesset plans to advance the Basic Law on Torah Study, freeze arrests of draft-dodging yeshiva students for up to eight months, and restore the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly over kosher certification. These come alongside laws weakening the Attorney General and favoring pro-government media outlets like Channel 14.

The Finance Committee has approved hundreds of millions of shekels in budget transfers, mainly to the Prime Minister's Office, Education, and Absorption Ministries, often bypassing standard procedures. Chairman Hanoch Milwitsky (Likud) insisted on discussing a 393 million shekel transfer to the Prime Minister's Office despite legal adviser Shlomit Arlich's objections about missing details and lack of proper documentation. This budget includes 90 million shekels for security measures, such as 12 million for protecting Netanyahu's family, 18 million for office fortifications, 25 million for the Wing of Zion airplane, and 8.1 million for former minister Ron Dermer's security.

Opposition members Vladimir Beliak and Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) demanded halting the transfer due to procedural violations, while Labor's Naama Lazimi requested detailed explanations on security costs. The Finance Ministry explained that security budgets are based on professional threat assessments and continue even after officials leave office. The Wing of Zion airplane, primarily used by Netanyahu and the president, has cost the state about 550 million shekels to date, with an additional 25 million shekels requested now despite not being included in the 2026 state budget.

Additional budget increases include 100 million shekels for the Prime Minister's Office's national information campaign, aimed at combating misinformation and strengthening Israel's narrative abroad. The Finance Committee also debated a 25 million shekel budget for the Hostages Administration, which supports families of captives and missing persons. Separately, the Education Committee fast-tracked a bill to establish a public center commemorating Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, with an estimated cost of 30 million shekels, including 12 million for annual operations, funded by the Ministry of Heritage.

The coalition's legislative and budgetary blitz reflects efforts to finalize key agreements and secure funding before the Knesset's dissolution, despite opposition criticism over transparency and procedural irregularities.