Gov’t Approves NIS 80M for Yeshivah Budgets

The government on Sunday approved an allocation of NIS 80 million ($20.7 million) to the budgets of yeshivos. The allocation had been part of the coalition agreement between the Likud and the chareidi parties United Torah Judaism and Shas.

As a result of the allocation, the budget for yeshivos will rise to NIS 119 million ($30.77 million) in the 2016-17 academic year. This year, the budget stood at NIS 39 million. The coalition agreement calls for an additional allocation of NIS 70 million next year.

In a statement, Health Minister Rabbi Yaakov Litzman said that the chareidi community appreciated the work done by all involved, including MK Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen (Shas), Finance Minister Moshe Kachlon and Finance Committee Chairman Rabbi Moshe Gafni (UTJ), in getting the funds approved.

The government also approved NIS 72 million ($18.6 million) for Jewish communities in Yehudah and Shomron. Commenting on that allocation, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that the money was needed to assist the many residents of the region in the wake of the security challenges they face. “This entailed the work of many ministries on behalf of the residents there and will strengthen security, assist small businesses and encourage tourism, among other benefits,” he said.