MK (Bayit Yehudi) Nissim Slomiansky in his capacity as chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee announced a planned 130 million NIS cut in funding to yeshivos is canceled. The announcement was made following marathon meetings between the Knesset committee and treasury officials. As a result, financing for yeshivos will be in line with decisions in 2013.

Taking part in the negotiations were Bayit Yehudi leader Minister Naftali Bennett, Slomiansky, and MK (Bayit Yehudi) Ayelet Shaked. He sum deducted from yeshiva budgets will soon be returned.

In 2012, the budget for talmidei yeshivos was close to 1 billion NIS. The biennial budget that exists today includes a drastic cut in yeshiva funding. In 2013, the budget dropped to 650 million NIS and then 130 million NIS was added later on, amounting to 780 million NIS. The last change will place it at 450 million NIS minus 200 million NIS from last year, but it should be increased by 580 million NIS with an addition of the sum almost cut, 130 million NIS.

The cut in the base budget is the result in the reduction in the number of talmidim. Slomiansky emphasis that in any event, the achievement focuses on the premise that the allocation for each talmid will not be less than in 2013.

The Bayit Yehudi officials praised their accomplishment, which they emphasize is another example of their commitment to the Torah world towards preserving the Jewish character of the State of Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)