The budget crisis threatening the operation of Israel’s mekomos kedoshim is worsening following instructions by the Religious Services Ministry to prepare for the closure of Me’aras HaMachpelah and warnings that services at additional mekomos kedoshim could be halted.

Officials in the Finance Ministry and at the mekomos kedoshim slammed the High Court order freezing the budget transfers and warned of its consequences ahead of Selichos and the upcoming Yamim Tovim, Arutz Sheva reported.

According to officials familiar with the matter, the frozen transfers included allocations that were not coalition funds but were earmarked for the ongoing operation of Israel’s mekomos kedoshim. The High Court froze the transfers without distinguishing between the different purposes for which the funds were intended.

Earlier this month, Justice Alex Stein issued a temporary order delaying the budget transfers. As a result of the decision, Me’aras HaMachpeilah and the National Center for the Development of Holy Sites, among others, have been left without the funding needed to continue their operations.

A senior official warned Arutz Sheva of the potential consequences of the crisis at a time when large numbers of mispallelim are expected to visit the sites.

“Israeli citizens need to understand: Tens and hundreds of thousands of people come to the kever of Rashbi in Meron and to Me’aras HaMachpeilah during the month of Selichos and during the Chagim. If there is a disaster, it will be on the hands of the High Court justices.”

The official added sharply: “Their hands will be full of blood, and they will not be able to hide behind one judicial decision or another.”

Referring to Me’aras HaMachpeilah, the official said that renovations are currently underway in the Yaakov Hall and warned that the funding freeze could interfere with preparations for Selichos.

“We are in the middle of renovating the Yaakov Hall. Why stop it? Selichos will begin soon with tens of thousands of mispalleim. Why prevent them? Because [Arab-Israeli] Justice Kabub doesn’t like Jews davening? Because Kabub and Ruth Ronen don’t like the look of us?”

“There is no coalition money here. Do Rashbi and Me’aras HaMachpeilah belong to Shas? They belong to everyone. Most of the people who come are soldiers, visitors from abroad, and many traditional and secular Israelis, some of whom are visiting Chevron for the first time,” he said.

“The High Court has become an anarchist organization that sows destruction and panic. Anywhere the High Court sees an opportunity to harm religious Jews, Chareidim, traditional Jews and the right, it is the first to volunteer for the job.”

Finance Ministry officials also criticized the decision, telling Arutz Sheva: “This is judicial activism that seeks to take over one of the most basic functions of government — allocating budgets in accordance with commitments made by the Knesset and the government under the law.”

According to the officials, the funding freeze is affecting not only the mekomos kedoshim but also routine government operations and suppliers who have already provided services and are awaiting payment from the state.

“The High Court justices are far removed from understanding the implications of freezing millions of shekels and the impact such a step has on the regular and critical operations of government ministries, as well as on organizations and private individuals, including suppliers who have already provided services and are waiting for payments the state committed to make,” they said.

The officials noted that the budget transfers were approved by the Knesset legal adviser and that similar transfers were made during previous Knessets and election periods.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)