Gov't to approve money for haredi education from coalition funds

The government was expected to approve NIS 300 million from coalition funds to ultra-Orthodox education uses in a telephone survey on Sunday after it promised to freeze coalition funds during the war.

The issue of coalition funds has been controversial as the government promised to freeze the funds for the duration of the war, but many have called for the money to instead be used for the war effort and to aid displaced Israelis.

The Finance Ministry claimed that the funds it was seeking to use for ultra-Orthodox education had already been approved before the war but hadn't been transferred yet. As such, it was seeking government approval to do so now.

Meanwhile, ultra-Orthodox parties claimed last week that they weren't paying teachers because they hadn't been given the promised money.

National Unity party ministers will oppose the transfer

National Unity, who recently joined the government on an emergency basis, said its five ministers would oppose the transfer.

"Transferring coalition funds for any purpose that isn't supporting the residents of the South or the North, bereaved families, and the families of hostages is wrong, both economically and morally, at this time," said the party in a statement on Sunday. "National Unity made it clear to the Likud that it will oppose the transferring of coalition funds that aren't for those purposes - both in the government and the Knesset."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported this stance taken by National Unity.

"I'm joining the demand made by Minister Benny Gantz not to allow the transfer of NIS 300 million of coalition funds to haredi education," he said. The government mustn't act out of narrow coalition considerations. Rehabilitating and treating the South and civilian issues need to be at the top of our priorities."

As he is not a minister, Lapid would not be able to vote in the survey.