The Ministerial Legislative Committee on Sunday accepted the bill which has been dubbed the Gafne Bill, addressing yeshiva funding issues. The bill is presented by MKs Moshe Gafne, Menachem Eliezer Moses and Uri Maklev of Yahadut HaTorah, seeking to address growing concerns for funding for mosdos.

The bill, if voted into law, will provide additional funding hours for talmidei torah. The number of hours and additional funding has not yet been decided. In the Chinuch Atzmai and Mayan HaChinuch HaTorani systems, there are an estimated 100,000 talmidim.

The bill also would compel municipal government to assist the mosdos, in areas of utility bills as well as making buildings available for chareidi mosdos as they do for state schools.

Gafne, who chairs the Knesset Finance Committee rejected accusations that seeking support for his bill is directly linked to the decision to approve the state budget by July 15th. He stated the bill is actually addressed in the coalition agreement and at the end of the day, the bill seeks to return the status to what is was a number of years ago before a High Court petition resulted in today’s discriminatory practices in which mosdos are left out in the cold.

On the other hand, Gafne stated the bill must be pushed through its four readings immediately, before the Knesset breaks for summer recess, for if not, there will not be funding for mosdos in Av and Elul and if that is the case, he does not see any reason for Yahadut HaTorah to remain in the coalition, adding this is not a threat but a simple matter of fact.

Following the ministerial approval, Deputy Education Minister Meir Porush added that in light of the High Court decision that stated the two educational networks are not entitled to funding as they received over the past 55 years, the Knesset will have to legislate a law to circumvent the discriminatory ruling. Porush also expressed his hope that the Knesset will complete the process prior to the start of the new school year.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)