More than 340 million shekels for settlements: Finance Committee to approve coalition funds the day after tomorrow

The Knesset Finance Committee will approve the day after tomorrow, Wednesday, the transfer of hundreds of millions of shekels in coalition funds for sectoral purposes, as well as funds for various ministries. According to a request sent to Knesset members, it is proposed to transfer 170.2 million shekels in expenditure to the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, along with an additional 400 million shekels in authorization to commit (a credit framework for the ministry).

Of this amount, 90.2 million shekels are designated as "coalition funds":

• Torah research institutes: 3.8 million shekels

• Public cultural institutions: 26.6 million shekels

• Municipal culture basket: 34.9 million shekels

• Olympic preparations: 4.4 million shekels

• Sports basket: 15.4 million shekels

• 2026 Maccabiah events: 4.8 million shekels

For the Ministry of Education, it is proposed to transfer 816 million shekels for "summer camps." Of this, 16.5 million shekels of coalition funds will be transferred at the request of Shas for summer camps in Haredi exempt institutions.

Additionally, 38.6 million shekels will be transferred to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. This funding supports government ministries working within the Civil Administration, including the inspection unit responsible for land oversight, demolition of illegal construction, monitoring of mining and quarrying sites, water theft prevention, nature reserve supervision, and the protection of archaeological sites, as well as regional development.

The committee will also discuss a request for 63 million shekels for the Ministry of Heritage and 209.9 million shekels for the Ministry of Settlements, plus 132.3 million shekels in authorization to commit. Of this, 114.8 million shekels are allocated to the Settlement Division, which serves as the government's executive arm in the territories.

Opposition coordinator in the Finance Committee, MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), and committee member MK Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) have demanded that the Knesset legal advisor halt the transfer of 117 million shekels in "coalition funds" to the Ministry of Settlements, headed by Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionism), citing concerns over potential political exploitation during the election period.