Israeli Coalition Condemns Supreme Court for Halting Budget Transfers to Ultra-Orthodox Parties

Israeli coalition members expressed strong outrage on Wednesday following the Supreme Court's decision to freeze budget transfers to ultra-Orthodox parties. The court cited procedural flaws in the Finance Committee's discussion as the reason for the freeze. Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz criticized the ruling as "unrestrained rampage," accusing the court of double standards by not intervening when the previous Bennett government made similar transfers weeks before elections.

Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwitsky also condemned the court, calling for the establishment of a constitutional court to replace what he termed the Supreme Court's unchecked activism. He described the ruling as judicial tyranny and argued that the Supreme Court should be limited to criminal and civil appeals.

Committee member Avichai Boaron detailed that the Finance Committee had thoroughly debated and approved the budget transfers legally before the Knesset's dissolution. He accused the Supreme Court of overstepping its role by acting as an additional legislative and executive authority.

Shas party officials echoed the criticism, accusing the Supreme Court of acting as an opposition branch and undermining democracy by freezing legally approved budget transfers. They highlighted that the previous government had conducted similar transfers without judicial interference, suggesting the court's actions are politically motivated when it comes to funding for the ultra-Orthodox community.