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Attorney General Freezes Haredi Funding Approved In Late-Night Knesset Votes

The freeze enforces legal vetting on budget maneuvers linked to court limits on benefits for draft‑exempt yeshivas.

Overview

  • Israel’s attorney general, who issued the order Monday, halted the release of funding for Torah schools and at‑risk Haredi youth worth roughly NIS 800 million according to one outlet.
  • She said the overnight budget amendments skipped required legal and professional review under Directive 1.1801, which forces checks on political budget deals before money moves.
  • Her office instructed ministries not to transfer the funds until a formal review assesses possible conflicts with Supreme Court rulings on benefits tied to Haredi conscription.
  • The coalition’s amendments were written to route money straight into Education Ministry programs instead of leaving it in a reserve that needs Finance Committee oversight.
  • Reactions broke along party lines, with Yair Lapid praising the stop and MK Moshe Gafni calling it unlawful overreach that defies a valid Knesset vote.