Yesterday, the government approved an additional budget for 2023 in the amount of NIS 26 billion following the Iron Sword War, and in the coming days the bill will reach the Knesset plenum for approval.
Five ministers from the state camp voted against the budget in protest of the fact that not all coalition funds were diverted for war purposes, contrary to the recommendation of the professional echelons in the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Israel.
The issue of coalition finances has sparked a public storm in recent days. While one side claims that these are political funds, not essential and do not encourage growth, and should be canceled during the war, the other side claims that they are a "campaign" by Lieberman and Lapid, harassment of the ultra-Orthodox, and more.
Through Dr. Gilad Malach, head of the Haredi program at the Israel Democracy Institute, Israel Hayom puts the numbers in order and explains what so angered the ministers of the state camp and led to the first cracks in the emergency government.
"An irreversible step"
One of the most prominent issues arousing disagreement between the sides regarding the coalition funds relates to funds earmarked for the ultra-Orthodox sector, such as "raising the salaries of teaching staff in informal education (New Horizon)" totaling NIS 177 million in 2023.
Smotrich, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
What is so problematic about raising teachers' salaries in the Haredi sector? After all, as Minister Smotrich claims, teachers in the secular sector were also raised.
"First of all, we are talking about NIS 250 million this year, and this amount will increase next year to NIS 900 million (the agreement was only started in October of this year, and this is a relative share). In general, it can be said that these are large-scale public budgets that will be transferred without proper supervision.
The New Horizon program is a comprehensive reform in state education that has led to a significant increase in teachers' salaries in the state education system. It took about four years to implement the program. On the other hand, in the ultra-Orthodox sector the whole system seemed to be ready within six months, obviously not serious.
"The New Horizon program for Haredi education was not accompanied by a comprehensive reform that includes the academization of teachers and the development of their professional advancement. The original program was accompanied by a system of supervision and full and personal reporting of the teachers while monitoring their professional development. In contrast, the New Horizon program for the ultra-Orthodox networks does not include supervision of teachers' professional development, thus enabling the networks to promote teachers without them deserving of it. The bottom line is that this program in the ultra-Orthodox sector has no clear oversight mechanisms."
Haredim, illustration, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Why is there so much interest in the question of a new horizon in the ultra-Orthodox networks?
"The implementation of the New Horizon program in the ultra-Orthodox sector is perceived as an irreversible step, in contrast to yeshiva budgets that can be cut back. It will be difficult to cancel an agreement that gives teachers a salary increase, because in Israel it is not customary to reduce wages."
The other item that is causing a storm is NIS 1.089 billion for the growth budget for religious institutions (yeshivas). After all, the state funds these institutions anyway, why is it problematic now?
"The issue of the meetings arouses great opposition because it is an additional half a billion shekels. It was reasonable to cut it back due to the period. The budget base for meetings is about NIS 620 million, which grows each year to a maximum of NIS 1.2 billion.
"The amount approved now increases the budget for the yeshivas to NIS 1.75 billion – a huge jump in one year. You could say that in such a difficult period you don't increase. To add a huge sum during the war to the budget of the elders, who do not serve in the army and do not go out to work – this is a step that is perceived as outrageous."
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