Supreme Court freezes transfer of 400 million shekels to Haredim and Strock's ministry

The Supreme Court issued an order nisi this evening (Monday) regarding a petition against the convening of the Finance Committee during the election recess, and determined that the committee chair, the Knesset speaker, and the Ministry of Finance must explain to the court why the transfer of coalition funds to the Haredim and the Ministry of Settlements under Orit Strock, which was approved in the meeting on August 4, should not be canceled.

Until they do so, the funds — 286 million shekels for the Ministry of Education and 123 million for the Ministry of Settlements — are frozen by an interim injunction. The decision on the petition, filed by MK Naama Lazimi (The Democrats) and the Hiddush organization for religious freedom and equality, was given by judges David Mintz, Khaled Kabub, and Ruth Ronen.

The judges also accepted the petitioners' request and released urgent budgets approved in the same meeting, including the reimbursement to local authorities for the 'School of the Summer Vacation' and budgets for the rehabilitation of the northern and southern communities. By doing so, the separation that the finance minister refused to make when asked by the court was carried out. According to the decision, a response affidavit on behalf of the respondents must be submitted by September 10.

Attorney Dr. Yifat Solel, deputy CEO and legal advisor at the Hiddush organization, who represented the petitioners, said:

"While the finance minister sought to hold the rehabilitation of the North and South as hostages and prevent the payment of salaries in the Ministry of Education in order to force budget transfers for religious indoctrination, Haredi institutions, and illegal outposts, the court accepted our request to release necessary funds and prevent illegal transfers. It is time for the finance minister to learn that public funds are not for his personal use and the use of his friends, but are as their name implies — of the public, and they will be distributed only according to the law and not according to political interest."

MK Naama Lazimi stated:

"The Supreme Court has decided that the state and the Knesset must account for the indiscriminate looting of the public treasury on the eve of the elections and without complying with the required rules. The attempt by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to block urgent funds for local authorities and the rehabilitation of the North and South in favor of election bribery for a draft-dodging scheme and for settlements did not succeed, and as we requested, the court released these funds for which there were agreements."

Among the transfers that were approved and frozen:

1. 26.1 million shekels for a program to prevent dropout from yeshivas

2. 16.1 million for increasing subsidies for after-school programs in Haredi community institutions

3. 12.5 million for support of Haredi Jewish culture

4. 15.2 million for expanding support for religious institutions operating in the Tkuma region in the Gaza envelope

5. 69 million shekels for the Ma'ayan HaChinuch HaTorani network (close to Shas) and the Chinuch Atzmai of United Torah Judaism

6. 16.4 million shekels for Haredi 'Patur' institutions within the framework of the 'School of the Summer Vacation'

7. 15.2 million for increasing subsidies for after-school programs in 'Mukshar' and 'Patur' institutions

8. 3.3 million shekels for religious institutions for coordination and liaison bodies

9. 1.1 million shekels for an assistance fund for Avrechim