Shas and Religious Zionism Clash Leads to Blocking of Hundreds of Millions in Transfers
Finance Committee meetings adjourned after 11 hours without approving coalition fund transfers for Minister Orit Strock’s ministry or ultra-Orthodox kindergarten teachers; the opposition signals its intent to block further discussions.
A sharp confrontation between the Shas party and the Religious Zionism party led this Wednesday evening to the Finance Committee meetings being adjourned after approximately 11 hours, without the approval of significant budget transfers as part of the coalition funds. The committee chairman, recognizing that the coalition lacked a majority due to the internal dispute, adjourned the proceedings.
Among the items not approved were the transfer of funds to the Ministry of Settlements and National Missions, headed by Minister Orit Strock, and the budget allocations intended for ultra-Orthodox kindergarten teachers.
Following the adjournment without a vote, any attempt to hold further discussions on the matter will first require the approval of the Consent Committee. The opposition has already signaled that it will oppose any such requests, a move that could delay the budget transfers and exacerbate the crisis between the coalition partners.
MK Vladimir Beliak tweeted:
"After a marathon discussion in the Finance Committee, which lasted 11 hours, we succeeded — through the joint work of all opposition members, against all odds — to block about 392 million shekels of coalition funds for private ultra-Orthodox education and Strock's Ministry of Settlements. Every additional meeting of the Finance Committee until the elections will need to receive approval from the Consent Committee. We are not giving up on them, until the very last moment."
