The Knesset plenum voted to approve two bills put forth by MKs Yaakov Litzman (UTJ) and Yaakov Mergi (Shas) which ensure that hareidi-religious educational institutions will continue to receive government funding despite the fact that they do not teach "core" subjects like mathematics, English and computers.
The laws were approved with large majorities despite Education Minister Yuli Tamir's fierce opposition. Tamir said that the vote was a breach of an agreement reached with the hareidi Knesset Members to postpone the vote by two weeks.