Election recess: Knesset to approve hundreds of millions more for political purposes today

News in brief: The Finance Committee is convening to approve transfers totaling 16 billion shekels. 653 million shekels of this amount concern coalition funds. The Ministry of Settlements, led by Orit Struck, is expected to receive 124 million shekels. Opposition representatives on the committee argue that this move exceeds the committee's authority.

The Knesset has been dissolved and the country is in the midst of an election recess, yet the coalition continues to distribute funds. The Finance Committee is expected to convene today, Wednesday, to discuss transfers of approximately 16 billion shekels, with 33 different requests on the table, some of which were added only in the last 24 hours.

Of the total amount, about 653 million shekels are coalition funds intended mainly for the ultra-Orthodox sector and Religious Zionism, including 124 million shekels for the Ministry of Settlements headed by Minister Orit Struck (Religious Zionism) and another 75 million shekels for the Ministry of Heritage led by Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit).

Knesset members Vladimir Beliak, Naor Shiri, and Orit Farkash-Hacohen—among the opposition representatives on the committee—argue that distributing funds of this magnitude while the Knesset is dissolved and the country is in election recess exceeds the committee's authority. Last week, Beliak and Shiri (Yesh Atid-Yahad) appealed to the legal counsel demanding a halt to some of the transfers, citing concerns that funds will be used for political purposes during the election period. They are now threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

The main requests submitted for the committee's approval include:

• Encouraging employment of designated populations (mainly ultra-Orthodox): 76.6 million shekels

• National Service system in the education sector: 71.8 million shekels

• Recognized but unofficial education Bnei Yosef (Shas and Agudat Yisrael networks): 69 million shekels

• Settlement education (state-religious): 65.4 million shekels

• Financing national service in the ultra-Orthodox society: 62.5 million shekels

• Strengthening activities in teacher training seminars: 57.3 million shekels

• Kindergarten teachers in recognized but unofficial education: 54 million shekels

• Unique characteristics of state-religious education (HAMAD): 30.4 million shekels

• Preventing dropout from yeshivas: 26.2 million shekels

• 'School of the Summer Vacation' in 'Ptor' institutions: 16.5 million shekels

• Increasing subsidies for after-school programs to 100% in recognized and 'Ptor' institutions: 16.2 million shekels

• Additional support for religious institutions in the Tkuma region and priority areas: 15.2 million shekels

• School construction (mainly in the ultra-Orthodox sector): 13.5 million shekels

• Support for ultra-Orthodox Jewish culture: 12.5 million shekels

• Support for students of Hesder yeshivas and yeshivas that encourage enlistment: 8.7 million shekels

• Expanding support for religious institutions: 4.3 million shekels

• Religious research institutes: 3.9 million shekels

• Coordination and liaison bodies (religious institutions): 3.9 million shekels