The Knesset Finance Committee approved around half a billion shekels to be transferred from the state budget to various ultra-Orthodox education programs on Tuesday. Millions of shekels will go to school systems run by institutions represented by the United Torah Judaism and Shas political parties, both of which are part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition.

Hadash MK Aida Touma-Sliman and Ayman Odeh (first from right) during the demonstration in front of the Knesset, rejecting the decision of Smotrich not to transfer budgets to Arab towns, August 21, 2023 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

Some of the initiatives to receive the funds are: the New Horizons program, which encourages teachers to work in haredi schools (NIS 700m.), support for haredi primary schools for boys (NIS 10.1m.), programs that work with ultra-Orthodox youths at-risk (NIS 56m.), and stipends for students from abroad studying in haredi schools in Israel (NIS 60m.).

Opposition members in the committee argued against transferring the funds, claiming that they were not legal because they are dedicated almost entirely to the haredi sector and are a misuse of government funds.

“The government and the coalition continue looting the public treasury and transferring hundreds of millions of shekels for sectorial gains,” said Labor MK Gilad Kariv. “These fund transfers only prove that the secular public in Israel is under attack.”

Also in the meeting, NIS 816m. was approved for local authorities, including NIS 200m. to local Arab authorities. However, according to the Finance Ministry representative, the money will only be released “once a mechanism is set up to supervise how these funds are used.” The decision to withhold the funds enraged Hadassh-Ta’al committee members, who accused the government of treating Arab local authorities differently from other authorities. MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash-Ta’al), complained at the committee meeting that it was a ploy to further delay the money, which is earmarked for education, welfare and construction,

Racist Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, refused during last months to release NIS 200 million ($55 million) for economic development in Arab towns and villages, drawing accusations of racism from Hadash-Ta’al lawmakers. The National Committee of Heads of Arab Local Authorities at NIS 320 million ($84 million).

On last August, a “warning strike” was held across Arab towns to demand the release of the funds. The Israeli Federation of Local Authorities joined the strike on Monday, with local government offices shuttered throughout the country in solidarity with their Arab counterparts.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=31180