Israeli Supreme Court Blocks Most Ultra-Orthodox Funding, Releases 78 Million Shekels for Religious Services
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
First reported by Calcalist · 24 hours ago
What happened
The Israeli Supreme Court upheld a freeze on hundreds of millions of shekels allocated to ultra-Orthodox institutions but allowed 78 million shekels for religious services to be released. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's request to lift the freeze was mostly denied, though funds for rabbinical courts were exempted. The decision followed a petition challenging the legality of budget approvals during the election recess, with critics accusing the minister of political manipulation of funds.
- 01Israeli Supreme Court maintains freeze on 366 million shekels for ultra-Orthodox institutions.
- 0278 million shekels for Ministry of Religious Services released, allowing religious sites to remain open.
- 03Finance Minister Smotrich's request to cancel freeze mostly rejected, except for rabbinical court funds.
- 04Petitioners challenged legality of Finance Committee's budget approval during election recess.
- 05Critics accuse Smotrich of bundling urgent funds with controversial payments to political allies.
- 06Ministry director general reversed closure of religious sites following court ruling.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
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