Israel's High Court of Justice has scheduled a hearing to review a petition against a significant budgetary transfer to ultra-Orthodox (haredi) educational institutions. The petition, filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, challenges a decision made by the Knesset Finance Committee on December 25, 2025.
The committee's decision authorized the transfer of approximately 400 million shekels from the budgets of various government ministries to the Ministry of Education. A substantial portion of these funds was reportedly earmarked for haredi schools, which are largely independent of the state's core curriculum.
The petitioners argue that the transfer was approved retroactively and lacked proper transparency and parliamentary oversight. They contend it violates principles of good governance and equality, as the funds were diverted without a detailed plan for their use in the state education system.
The state has requested a 60-day extension to file its response to the petition. The High Court has given the state until early May 2026 to submit its arguments, after which a hearing will be scheduled. The case highlights ongoing legal and political debates over state funding for religious institutions in Israel.
