Transfers to the ultra-Orthodox and settlers continue: Another 78 million shekels will be transferred to the Ministry of Religious Services
Despite the dissolution of the Knesset for elections, the Ministry of Finance continues to request large budget transfers. The opposition, led by MK Vladimir Beliak, is actively blocking the approval of these funds.
Transfers of funds to the ultra-Orthodox, to sectoral targets, and to redundant ministries continue even though the Knesset was dissolved for elections on July 16, 2026. At the end of the week, the Ministry of Finance sent a request to the Finance Committee to transfer 78 million shekels to the Ministry of Religious Services, and another 17.5 million shekels in authorization to commit (credit line).
Among other things, this involves the transfer of 18 million shekels to the Rabbinical Courts, 26.8 million shekels for religious services, and 8.5 million shekels to religious councils. The opposition coordinator in the Finance Committee, MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), announced that he would not allow the convening of the Finance Committee for the purpose of approving this budgetary request, nor the approval of other budgetary requests for coalition funds and funds for redundant ministries.
After the dissolution of the Knesset, raising issues in the plenum and committees requires the approval of the joint consent committee of the coalition and the opposition. Beliak turned to the opposition faction coordinator, MK Merav Ben-Ari (Yesh Atid), who informed him that she would not allow the convening of the Finance Committee on the matter.
"The Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services, Yehuda Avidan, approached me last week and asked me to agree to the transfer of funds — but I refused," Beliak told Calcalist. "Avidan explained to me that they did not manage to submit the request before the Finance Committee meeting last Wednesday, where it approved many budgetary requests. I do not find any reason to transfer money to the Ministry of Religious Services, especially after the budget of this ministry has grown from year to year."
