AnalysisGovernment adds NIS 1 billion to fund yeshivot, amid war with Gaza
Analysis
Government adds NIS 1 billion to fund yeshivot, amid war with Gaza
Among other things, the government believes that now is the right time to spend NIS 2.9 million on counseling on the subject of family purity and a similar amount on the Tomb of the Patriarchs.
At this time even when one’s heart bursts with joy for every captive released and shatters for every fallen soldier, and even when the Netanyahu government tries to sell the bluff that ‘together we will win’, the flow of coalition funds provides a clear picture: we are at war, and maybe they’ve marginally cut some ministerial budgets, but hundreds of millions of shekels will continue to flow to further their own interests. Preserving and sustaining coalition partnerships is the ultimate goal, before rebuilding Western Negev communities, before protecting the residents in Ashkelon, and before addressing Eilat’s economic needs.
The largest and most disturbing section of all is the clause supporting yeshiva students, which will increase what they already receive from the government by NIS 1,000 ($263) per student. In total, this represents more than a billion shekels to economically support those who do not serve in the army and who, until recently, expended great effort to ensure that their non-enlistment be legally enshrined. On the eve of the war, the enlistment rate among the ultra-Orthodox stood at only about 10%. Before October 7th, the predominant belief was that a small and efficient army was the best option - a belief that has now collapsed. Regular service, especially for combat soldiers, will return to a full three years, and reserve soldiers will return to training more frequently and be absent more from their work and civilian lives.
The government's decision to reward yeshivas with an additional billion shekels is further evidence that this view has changed mainly among those who serve in the army. Yes, there has been an increase in ultra-Orthodox Jews enlisting, those who have realized that something must change, and there are more Zaka volunteers, and others who serve away from the public eye. However, the large amount of money pouring from above intended to preserve the political power centers of the ultra-Orthodox parties conveys exactly the opposite.
It’s impossible not to look at where the government is allocating money during wartime and not go crazy. For example: NIS 3 million ($804,000) to commemorate Rehavam “Gandhi” Ze’evi, a right-wing MK who was assassinated in 2001. If Ze’evi himself were asked whether to use these funds to buy more bulletproof vests for security teams on the northern border, he would probably say yes. Another example: NIS 4.3 million ($1.15 million) for the Heritage Ministry to document settlements and another NIS 1 million ($268,000) for “strengthening heritage infrastructures.” The budget of the Heritage Ministry, invented for the needs of the political whims of Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit faction, is no less than half a billion shekels, wasted on other trivial matters instead of focusing resources on the war effort. And, it only continues.
Netanyahu’s government believes that now is the right time to spend NIS 2.9 million ($777,000) on counseling on the subject of family purity and a similar amount on the Tomb of the Patriarchs. The largest amount that the Ministry of Education will receive as part of the coalition funds will go to support the ultra-Orthodox at NIS 77 million ($20 million). This is four times what technological education will receive and three times what youth movements, the national service program, and youth villages will receive. Additionally, within the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the highest amount allocated is for ultra-Orthodox cultural activities, with an additional NIS 1 million ($268,000) going towards Torah research institutions.
We could go on and on, but you get the picture. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Netanyahu will justify the budget, they’ll say that they are also adding funds to the National Security Ministry, which include additional funds for psychological treatment for Western Negev communities and the surrounding areas, which is why it is also very important to strengthen the police and welfare services.
Their decision to continue with their plan to allocate funds to these areas, beyond clearly showing the priorities of the current government, illustrates how out of touch they are with the magnitude of the current situation. Credit rating companies, international investors, and the international debt market are all waiting with bated breath to receive a clear answer regarding whether Israel’s government is going to act responsibly. When they discover that despite the astronomical increase in the defense budget and the expected deficit in state tax revenues, the government is allocating another billion shekels to fund yeshivas, whose contribution to the economy and the army is zero, they will know what to do.
When they realize that the government is choosing to invest more money in counseling on family purity, they will draw the obvious conclusion: no one is managing this situation. Moreover, the continued flow of funds to unnecessary ministries filled with unnecessary tasks is an indication of expenses that will continue to flow into the 2024 budget. There is already a large sum of NIS 8 billion ($2.1 billion) in coalition funds, most of which is funding items that are even more disturbing than those discussed here. If these are the signals being sent to international bodies, there is no doubt as to what conclusion they will draw: Israel's economy has been destroyed by extremists.
