Israel’s High Court of Justice on Monday issued an interim order blocking the transfer of NIS 286 million in coalition funds earmarked for Chareidi educational institutions, while demanding that the Knesset Finance Committee chairman and the Finance Ministry explain why the transfers should not be canceled altogether.
The court issued an order to show cause regarding the funding and simultaneously barred the government from transferring the money until a final decision is reached in the petition.
The NIS 286 million designated for Chareidi education consists of two separate transfers approved by the Knesset Finance Committee on August 4, 2026.
The larger allocation totals NIS 270 million and relates to budget requests 151 through 153. A second allocation of NIS 16 million to the Education Ministry relates to budget requests 101 through 106.
Together, the two allocations amount to NIS 286 million intended for Chareidi education.
In their decision, the justices ordered the respondents “to appear and provide reasons why the transfer of the coalition funds” approved by the Finance Committee should not be canceled.
The order places the burden on the Finance Committee chairman and the Finance Ministry to defend the allocations before the court and demonstrate why they should be permitted to proceed.
In addition to issuing the order to show cause, the High Court imposed an interim injunction that immediately freezes the funds while the petition remains under consideration.
“In light of the above, with regard to these funds, an interim order is hereby issued preventing their transfer until a decision is rendered in the petition,” the court wrote.
The ruling extends beyond the funding for Chareidi education. The justices also froze NIS 123 million allocated to the Settlement Ministry.
That amount consists of one transfer totaling NIS 117 million and another of NIS 6 million.
Altogether, the court’s decision affects four separate transfers of coalition funds totaling NIS 409 million.
The court also ruled that a temporary order previously issued on August 5, 2026, would be canceled. However, the newly issued interim injunction effectively continues to prevent the government from transferring the funds covered by the ruling.
The respondents have until September 10, 2026, to submit their response to the court’s order to show cause.
The decision was issued by a three-justice panel consisting of Justices David Mintz, Khaled Kabub and Ruth Ronnen.
The ruling marks another significant court intervention involving government funding affecting the Chareidi community, with hundreds of millions of shekels designated for Chareidi educational institutions now remaining frozen as the legal battle proceeds.
