Knesset Legal Advisor Urges Supreme Court to Reject Petition Halting Budget Transfers

The Knesset's legal advisor, Shagit Afik, submitted a response to the Supreme Court on Sunday regarding a petition filed on August 4 against budget transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee. Afik demanded the dismissal of the petition and the cancellation of an interim order that froze these transfers, which include funds allocated to the ultra-Orthodox education system.

Afik argued that the Finance Committee's convening on August 4 was lawful and within the authority of the Knesset Speaker, emphasizing that the petition is based on partial facts and fails to consider the full procedural context. She explained that the Speaker exercised his discretionary power due to the urgency of the budget transfers, which were necessary for ongoing government operations, including security needs for the IDF and Ministry of Defense, payments to suppliers, and ensuring the start of the school year.

The legal advisor stressed that the matter is an internal parliamentary decision and that the judiciary's intervention in such internal Knesset affairs should be minimal. She also rejected the petitioners' attempt to impose "caretaker government" restrictions on the Knesset's budgetary oversight during recess, underscoring the Knesset's sovereignty in managing the state budget at all times.

Earlier this month, the Finance Committee approved budget reallocations totaling approximately 250 million shekels, including increased funding for ultra-Orthodox kindergartens. However, the day after the approval, Judge Alex Stein issued a temporary injunction freezing the transfers except for civil emergency expenses, citing alleged procedural flaws in the committee's meeting. This judicial intervention drew sharp criticism from Finance Committee Chair Hanoch Milwitsky, who called for the closure of the Supreme Court and the establishment of a constitutional court.

The Supreme Court is now expected to rule on whether to uphold the freeze or allow the budget transfers to proceed, which are deemed critical for the state's functioning and security.