Israeli Supreme Court Freezes Budget Transfers to Ultra-Orthodox Groups Citing Procedural Flaws

The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday temporarily halted nearly all budget transfers approved the previous day by the Knesset Finance Committee. These funds were intended for ultra-Orthodox communities and the office of Minister Orit Struck. Justice Alex Stein issued an interim order suspending the implementation of the budget allocations decided at the committee meeting, except for transfers related to civil emergency expenses. He explained that the decision was made due to alleged procedural defects during the Finance Committee's session. The petition challenging the transfers will be heard soon by a three-judge panel. In response, Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwitsky criticized the court's intervention, accusing justices Alex Stein and Esther Salberg of acting as conservatives who lack proper regulation, and called for the closure of the Supreme Court and the establishment of a constitutional court instead.