Gafni demands budget boost for haredi needs

The MK wants an extra NIS 250 million in the 2011-2012 main budget rather than being subject to coalition negotiations.

MK Moshe Gafni's (United Torah Judaism), who is chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, is demanding an extra NIS 250 million for haredi (ultra-orthodox) needs in negotiations for the 2011-2012 main budget. The significance of the demand is the transfer of the status of these monies from a one-time coalition agreement grant to an integral part of the budget.

There are several advantages to this. There will be a multi-year deal that will save annual negotiations, and any increased budget will become the normal threshold for future talks about increases.

If the deal is agreed then haredi yeshivot will receive NIS 975 million annually from the main budget instead of the current NIS 730 million, with the extra NIS 250 million allocated as part of the coalition agreement.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 27, 2010

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010

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