Israel’s High Court on Wednesday froze the budget transfer passed yesterday by the Knesset Finance Committee, which approved approximately 250 million shekels for the Chareidi educational system, as well as funding for the Settlements Ministry.

The transfers include broad budgetary measures intended to address longstanding funding gaps affecting educational institutions, teaching staff, welfare programs, and support services within the Chareidi sector, issues that have been discussed extensively during recent Knesset sessions.

In response to petitions by Democrats MK Naama Lazimi and the far-left Hiddush organization, Justice Alex Stein ruled that the decision was made “in light of the procedural defects that allegedly occurred during the Finance Committee’s meeting.”

Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz slammed the ruling, saying: “The High Court is on an unchecked rampage. It’s interesting that today they call it a procedural defect, but when Bennett’s fraudulent government approved budget transfers worth hundreds of millions just one week (!) before the elections, it was considered within the Knesset’s authority. They’re not even trying to hide it anymore.”

Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milwidsky stated: “Yesterday it was Justice Solberg, today it’s Justice Stein. Both entered the High Court as ‘conservatives.’ The High Court is beyond repair. The High Court must be shut down—the solution is a constitutional court.”

The Shas party issued a statement saying: “Once again, the High Court has proven that it has become a branch of the opposition, trampling the Knesset with a heavy hand. The decision to freeze budget transfers that were lawfully approved by the Finance Committee is a serious blow to democracy and to the will of the legislature. The transfers had passed all the required stages in the Finance Committee and had been approved by the authorized bodies.

“The hypocrisy is glaring. As MK Yinon Azoulay revealed, the previous government approved coalition funds in the same manner about a week before the elections—and the High Court did not intervene.”

“The law hasn’t changed, and neither has the procedure. Only the identity of the government and the public receiving the funding has changed. When it comes to the children of the Chareidi community, suddenly the rules of the game change. It’s a disgrace.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)