Finance Committee Debates Coalition Budget Transfers Without Approval From Agreement Committee
On the morning of the session, Israel's Finance Committee discussed a series of budget transfers, including coalition funds totaling approximately 267 million shekels, without prior approval from the Agreement Committee. This committee is a parity body of opposition and coalition representatives that must authorize legislation and discussions during election periods. A petition was filed with the Supreme Court challenging the legality of holding the Finance Committee meeting under these circumstances.
The transfers under discussion included allocations from the state reserve to the Ministry of Education for various programs such as a 26 million shekel initiative to prevent student dropout in yeshivas, a 16 million shekel subsidy increase for after-school programs in exempt institutions, 12 million shekels for support of Haredi Jewish culture, 15 million for Torah institutions in the settlement bloc, and 30 million for the "Hemed" network. Another 16 million shekels was proposed for the "School of the Long Summer" in exempt institutions.
Additionally, coalition funds amounting to about 78 million shekels in cash and 40 million shekels in commitment authorizations were proposed for the Ministry of Culture, aimed at supporting Jewish culture and local authorities in Area C, along with 5 million shekels for task forces and the settlement division. The committee also considered hundreds of millions of shekels in budget transfers for various programs, including 800 million shekels to the Ministry of Education, grants to local authorities from last year's budget surpluses, 164 million shekels for unpaid leave compensation related to Operation "Roaring Lion," and substantial funds for fortifying northern communities.
The petitioners, MK Naama Lazimi and the Hadash party, requested an injunction to halt the meeting or at least a temporary order preventing the transfer of coalition funds totaling 360 million shekels until the Supreme Court rules. The Finance Ministry is also reportedly pushing for a dramatic plan to reduce pension contribution rates, which could have significant financial implications.
This development highlights tensions over budgetary procedures during an election period and raises questions about the transparency and legality of coalition funding allocations without full parliamentary consensus.
