The High Court of Justice on Wednesday temporarily froze nearly all budget transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee a day earlier, citing apparent procedural flaws in the committee’s election-recess meeting.
Justice Alex Stein’s order blocks the implementation of all transfers approved during Tuesday’s session, except for funding designated for civilian emergency expenses. The court has not ruled that the transfers themselves were unlawful.
The committee approved approximately NIS 1 billion in allocations, including roughly NIS 270 million for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) education, following a stormy debate over whether the meeting had been properly convened during the recess.
The petition, filed by the Hiddush religious-freedom organization and Democrats MK Naama Lazimi, will be heard by a three-justice panel as soon as possible. The respondents were ordered to submit preliminary responses ahead of the hearing.
This is a developing story.