The Knesset Finance Committee approved an additional NIS 32 million ($7 million) in Education Ministry funding for yeshivas and kollelim. The committee also approved an NIS 9 million ($2 million) increase in the Chinuch Atzmai budget, including NIS 1 million ($230,000) for busing.Following concerted efforts by MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni and his request to the Finance Ministry, the latter decided to reverse plans to cut NIS 8 million in Guaranteed Income (Havtachat Hachnasah) for avreichim (NIS 50 per avreich). Finance Ministry officials claimed the move was part of a 5 percent budget cut at all government ministries stated in the national budget for 2006. Yet no cut was made in Guaranteed Income benefits for other recipients.
Chareidi committee members lodged protests against the Finance Ministry’s decision to cut just Guaranteed Income funding for avreichim and Rabbi Gafni noted that the cut even exceeded 5 percent. He also lodged harsh criticism against MK Amnon Cohen (Shas) and his party which, as coalition members, lent a hand to the blow to avreichim, not stepping in to prevent this scandal.
The Finance Committee also approved a Finance Ministry cut of NIS 8.5 million ($2 million) in funding for the religious councils. Rabbi Gafni protested this decision as well, saying the religious councils are already under severe financial strain and again criticizing MK Cohen and his party’s consent to carry out this budget cut.
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