MK Gafni Condemns Attorney General's Decision to Cut Funding for Haredi Education

Knesset Member Moshe Gafni strongly criticized the Attorney General's recent decision to halt state funding for Haredi educational institutions that do not provide a full core curriculum. Gafni called the move a "conspiracy" that will ultimately fail, emphasizing that Haredi education predates the current Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, and will continue long after her tenure.

Gafni accused Baharav-Miara of overstepping her authority by unilaterally deciding how Haredi children should be educated, stating that in a democratic state, such decisions should be made by elected officials, not by one individual. He challenged her to require all Israeli children to study traditional Jewish texts such as the 613 commandments, Torah, Prophets, Writings, and Talmud if she insists on imposing educational standards.

He further asserted that the Attorney General's actions represent a broader agenda aimed at undermining the Haredi way of life and forcing secularization upon the community. Gafni vowed that the Haredi public will continue to uphold their faith and educational traditions despite these pressures.

The Attorney General's decision came after several petitions and was based on findings from the Ministry of Education highlighting significant gaps in Haredi schools' compliance with core curriculum requirements and deficiencies in oversight and enforcement. The ruling conditions funding on full adherence to these educational obligations.

Gafni's remarks reflect ongoing tensions between the Haredi community and state authorities over educational content and funding, especially during an election period when legislative actions are limited but the Attorney General's directives remain impactful.