The government approved the coalition funds: Goldknoff opposed

March 5, 2025   

Overcame a hurdle on the way to the budget: The government approved coalition financial targets of 5 billion shekels for 2025 this evening (Tuesday). All ultra-Orthodox ministers supported the decision, except for Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf, who voted against, in what appears to be another step towards his exit from the government, if the conscription law is not approved before the state budget. It was also decided to cancel coalition funds starting in 2026 and include them in the budget base. Sources in the Ministry of Finance strongly oppose this. It was agreed that a recommendation on the matter will be formulated in the next three months, with the involvement of the Ministry of Justice. The coalition funds were approved thanks to the demand and struggle of the ultra-Orthodox representatives, except for Goldknopf. Shas' significant achievement in coalition funds: 277 million shekels for distributing food stamps, and a budget for establishing the Authority to Fight Poverty. So which budgets did Minister Goldknopf vote against? Here are prominent items from the coalition's transfers of funds to the Haredim in the budget proposal: 1.3 billion NIS - for Torah institutions (the yeshiva budget) 277 million NIS to promote nutritional security in the Ministry of Social Affairs (Aryeh Deri's food cards for the needy). NIS 26 million for Meir Porush's Jerusalem and Israel Tradition Ministry NIS 68 million for Deputy Minister Uri Maklev's Haredi Development Authority NIS 107 million for incentive hours for care in accredited and exempt institutions NIS 10 million for medical organizations (United Hatzalah, etc.) NIS 3 million for organizations working for organ donation NIS 33 million for engineering studies in seminars NIS 15 million for servers and secretaries in exempt institutions NIS 20.5 million for an hour's worth of work in exempt institutions NIS 75 million to reinforce activities in seminars NIS 28 million to educate a teenager to prevent dropping out of yeshivahs NIS 5 million for youth who drop out NIS 50 million to extend the school day in recognized, unofficial institutions and exempt institutions, designated for Haredi educational institutions. 70 million NIS to support Haredi Jewish culture. 60 million NIS to support Torah institutions intended for overseas students. 10 million NIS for technological education in seminars. 1.3 million NIS for contact with the Haredi youth community. 6 million NIS for the care of orphans (ZAKA).