Hundreds of millions at the center: Finance Committee convenes during recess contrary to practice
The Finance Committee is expected to convene this morning for an unusual discussion during the election period, aiming to approve a series of controversial budget transfers. At the center are hundreds of millions of shekels intended for the Ministry of Settlement and yeshivas. Knesset members Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Naama Lazimi have appealed to the legal counsel demanding to stop the discussion: "Opposition consent is required."
The Knesset Finance Committee will convene this morning (Tuesday) in the midst of the election recess for a stormy discussion regarding changes to the state budget. Convening the committee at this time is considered exceptional and is taking place contrary to the practice accepted in the Knesset during previous election campaigns.
On the committee's agenda is a series of budget transfers amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels, intended primarily for the ultra-Orthodox sector and the Religious Zionism parties. Among other things, the budgets are intended to be transferred to yeshivas that are alleged to encourage draft evasion, as well as to the Ministry of Settlement and National Missions headed by Minister Orit Strock.
This budgetary move is sparking fierce opposition among members of the opposition. Knesset members Orit Farkash-Hacohen and Naama Lazimi have urgently appealed to the Knesset's legal counsel with the aim of preventing the discussion from taking place. In their appeal, the two clarified that holding such discussions during an election period requires the prior consent of the opposition. The Knesset members sharply criticized the attempt to approve the funds at the current time and emphasized that these are public funds, stating: "This money belongs to all of us."
