Knesset Urges Supreme Court Not to Intervene in Finance Committee Budget Transfer Decisions

The Knesset responded on Sunday to a petition challenging budget transfers to ultra-Orthodox sectors approved by the Finance Committee earlier this month, which were temporarily frozen by an interim court order citing procedural flaws. The Knesset argued that the petition and the interim injunction should be dismissed, stating no procedural defects occurred during the committee's convening that would justify judicial intervention in this internal parliamentary matter.

The response highlighted that during election recesses, if the Arrangements Committee rejects a request to convene a committee, the Knesset Speaker has the authority under Rule 112(b) of the Knesset Rules of Procedure to approve such convening in special cases, a power previously exercised. For example, during the 24th Knesset election recess, the Speaker approved three budget transfer discussions, including coalition-related ones, after the Arrangements Committee had not approved them.

Regarding the current case, the Finance Committee meeting on August 4 to discuss six budget transfers was approved by the Speaker after consulting government officials who emphasized the transfers' urgency for the school year opening, salary payments, and suppliers. The Knesset also noted that legal advice was obtained for six of the original thirteen requested transfers. It stressed that such approvals during election recesses are internal parliamentary matters not subject to court interference.

The transfers discussed had undergone the full governmental process, including legal approval and compliance with the Finance Committee's procedures on budget transfers, thus presumed to meet the necessary governmental restraint rules during election recesses. Meanwhile, coalition members expressed frustration, accusing the Supreme Court of "unrestrained rampage."