80% of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Welfare budget meant to help
Israel’s elderly, disabled, battered women, and abused children actually
went to haredi yeshivas and institutions, according to a stunning new
report.
80% Of Welfare Budget Meant To Help Public Institutions Care For Elderly And Disabled Israelis Goes To Haredi Yeshivas And Related Haredi Institutions
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
80% of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Welfare budget meant to help Israel’s elderly, disabled, battered women, and abused children actually went to haredi yeshivas and institutions, according to stunning new reports by Ma’ariv and Globes.
An internal Ministry of Social Affairs and Welfare report shows that NIS 64.2 million out of its budget of NIS 81 million for public institutions goes to haredi institutions, including yeshivas.
Institutions of Belz Hassidim received NIS 708,000, institutions of Beer Avraham received NIS 863,000, the Kol Torah Yeshiva received NIS 872,000, and the Yeshiva Karlin Stolin in Bnei Brak received more than NIS 1 million.
However, public institutions that care for the elderly, disabled, battered women, and abused children received only NIS 13.8 million – 20% of the budget.
Akim National Association for Children and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities received NIS 9,030; Krembo Wings, which provides care for disabled children, received NIS 43,000; ILAN Israel Foundation for Handicapped Children received NIS 172,000; and AIDS Israel received NIS 22,000.
The Ministry of Social Services responded that the criteria for getting these grants were open and equal.
"The transfer of support funds to public institutions is based on equal and uniform criteria, which are publicly available. Applications for support submitted to the ministry are reviewed in an equal and uniform. The support tests are not directed to religious or secular institutions, and any organization that considers itself worthy may apply for support for issues published. If an organization meets all the criteria, the support committee will find it eligible for support,” the ministry’s statement said.
The Minister of Israel’s Social services and Welfare Ministry is Moshe Kahlon, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party.
Netanyahu depends of haredi political parties to keep his coalition in power. He has been widely attacked for coddling the haredi community and for failing to enforce High Court of Justice rulings that haredim oppose.