Israel’s ultra-Orthodox parties approve more money for the war

By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli lawmakers on Monday provisionally approved an increase in the 2024 budget to fund reservists and help people displaced by the Gaza war, with ultra-Orthodox parties supporting the measure.

The vote to increase the 2024 budget by NIS 3.4 billion ($906 million) was passed by a majority of 58 to 52, the Finance Ministry said.

Ultra-Orthodox parties had threatened to boycott the vote in parliament in the dispute over the financing of their separate education system.

The bill must pass two more votes to become law.

The break with the ultra-Orthodox parties is a test of the unity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

The two religious parties, which hold 18 of the 120 seats in parliament, said last week they would not take part in the plenary votes until the government agreed that schools in their separate education system should receive the same benefits as state schools – in particular their “New Horizon” program, which extends the number of teaching hours and significantly increases teachers’ salaries.

A spokesman for Moshe Gafni, the leader of one of the ultra-Orthodox parties, said the faction had decided to vote for the budget this time. It was unclear how future votes would proceed.

“The budget adjustments will create the conditions for a continuous continuation of the war against those who want to harm us,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, criticizing those who voted against it.

“It would be good if the opposition members also took on their national responsibility and voted for continued funding for the evacuees and reservists – this war affects us all together.”

Israel called up reservists during the Gaza war and tens of thousands of Israelis were displaced from their homes in the north of the country by rocket fire from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

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(Reporting by Steven Scheer, editing by Timothy Heritage)