The Knesset Finance Committee on Sunday 29 Kislev approved 12 million shekels for chareidi cultural projects. The approval is credited to the tenacious efforts of MKs Yaakov Litzman, Moshe Gafne and Yitzchak Cohen of Shas.
The current administration significantly cut the chareidi cultural budget and this allocation is viewed as a tikun of that cut, the MKs explain. They stated repeatedly during this administration’s tenure that chareidi nonprofits are on the verge of total collapse as a result of the cuts and this includes funding many hours of shiurim in shuls nationwide.
The day’s allocations did not stop with the chareidim. The committee also approved 5.8 billion NIS for the nation’s ailing healthcare system and close to 1 billion NIS to pay for Defense Ministry and IDF for the costs of Operation Protective Edge.
Despite strong opposition the committee also approved 12.8 million for the Barkan Industrial Park in Shomron, located near Ariel. This will be used for the construction of a tourism center in the area.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Realiation by the secular politicians that coalition negotiations are coming up in a few months?
I believe that most hilonim believe that for a big enough “bribe”, the hareidim will agree to send all the yeshiva students to the army for three years (they are probably wrong to expect that, but it would explain why they would give money now, in anticipation of support later on).
Yeshiva students who join the army after age 21 do not put in three full years of service, just BTW!