United Torah Judaism has decided to file a no-confidence
motion following the government's decision to stop support
funding for all foreign yeshiva students in Israel and to
reduce stipends for kollel students. The motion will
be brought before the Knesset next Monday.
According to a UTJ press statement, "The party expresses
shock and protest against the government decision to cancel
support for yeshiva students from abroad and to cut support
for avrechei kollelim."
During a party meeting it was explained that the government
has decided to execute the following:
1. To stop funding payments for students from abroad studying
at yeshivas in Israel. As such it was decided to cut NIS 18
million ($4.5 million) from the foundation of the 2008 budget
from the area of support for Torah-based learning
institutions.
2. To reduce support for married avrechei kollelim
starting in the current academic year. As such it was decided
to cut NIS 55 million ($13.7 million) from the foundation of
the 2008 budget for the area of support for Torah-based
learning institutions.
The UTJ press release notes, "The government decision is
final. In order to change it, the Finance Minister or any
other minister may not just decide on his own, but rather a
new government decision is required. The Kadima-Shas
government is continuing its policy of harming yeshivas and
Torah institutions in a way unprecedented since the founding
of the state and therefore it has been decided to submit a no-
confidence motion in the government on this issue."
