Budget Freeze Threatens Closure of Holy Sites Amid High Pilgrim Influx, Officials Warn
A budgetary crisis is escalating as a Supreme Court injunction halts critical funding transfers for the operation of key holy sites in Israel, including the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me'arat HaMachpela) and the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and the holy sites have sharply criticized the court's decision, warning of severe consequences during the upcoming month of repentance and the Jewish High Holidays, when tens and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit these sites.
The injunction, ordered by Judge Alex Stein, temporarily suspends budget transfers due to alleged procedural flaws in the Finance Committee's approval process. This freeze affects not only coalition funds but also essential operational budgets, leaving sites without approved funding for ongoing activities and security. A senior holy sites official told Channel 7 that any disaster resulting from this funding halt would be the responsibility of the Supreme Court justices, emphasizing the critical need for security and maintenance during peak pilgrimage periods.
The official highlighted ongoing renovations at the Cave of the Patriarchs, specifically in the Jacob Hall, warning that halting work now would jeopardize preparations for the large crowds expected during the High Holidays. He rejected claims that the funding was sectarian, noting that the sites serve a broad public including soldiers, foreigners, and secular visitors.
Ministry of Finance representatives defended the court's intervention as judicial oversight of government budget allocations, stressing that the freeze impacts ongoing operations and payments to service providers. They noted that the budget transfers had legal approval from the Knesset's legal advisor and were consistent with past practices.
The crisis deepened after the Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, instructed preparations for a full closure of the Cave of the Patriarchs within two weeks due to the lack of approved funding. Earlier, Avidan warned that the National Center for Holy Sites Development would have to cease services by early September without a budget.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, Rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites and chair of the "Committee of Five," appealed to the Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Gil Limon, warning that the lack of budget threatens safety and operational stability, describing the situation as a matter of "life and death." He stressed the urgency given the approach of the High Holidays and recalled the 2017 tragedy at Meron, underscoring the critical nature of the funding for safety and management.
The dispute highlights tensions between the judiciary and government over budgetary control and the operation of religious sites during a sensitive period for Israel's religious community.
