Finance Committee Chair Clashes With Protesters Over Controversial Settlement Funding

During a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday to approve coalition budget transfers exceeding 360 million shekels to West Bank settlements, activists opposing the funding interrupted the session. Committee Chair MK Hanoch Milwitsky confronted the protesters, saying, "Don't talk about settlers. Shame. Disgusting. They are worse than terrorists, worse than collaborators."

The meeting followed a petition to the High Court of Justice by MK Naama Lazimi (The Democrats) and attorney Yifat Solel on behalf of the NGO Hiddush. They sought an injunction to prevent the meeting or at least block the approval of the funds, arguing the session violated legal and Knesset rules during the election recess. The petition noted that the Finance Committee was only authorized to hold one meeting in the first two weeks of the recess, which occurred on July 29 without approving any budget transfers.

Additionally, the petition claimed the agenda included coalition budget transfers not discussed before the recess, including about 280 million shekels for ultra-Orthodox and religious educational institutions. Lazimi condemned the coalition's actions as "daylight robbery of taxpayers' money," accusing the outgoing coalition of trying to empty the public coffers before losing power. She said the so-called "continuation meeting" was an insult to intelligence and violated administrative rules and election integrity.

Lazimi emphasized that hundreds of millions meant for reservists, evacuees, and struggling welfare and health systems were being redirected as election bribes to shirkers and cronies. She vowed to resist the transfers until the coalition is replaced by a responsible government after the elections.