Israeli Supreme Court Releases Funds to Ministry of Religious Services After Closure Threats

The Israeli Supreme Court announced it will exempt the budgets approved for the Ministry of Religious Services from a temporary order freezing fund transfers. Earlier this month, the Knesset Finance Committee had approved these funds, but their transfer was halted by the court's interim injunction. The decision followed a warning from Yehuda Avidan, the ministry's director general, who informed the court that without the release of approximately 30 million shekels, 125 religious sites across Israel would close starting Sunday. Among the threatened sites are significant locations such as the Cave of the Patriarchs, Rachel's Tomb, and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's tomb.