Religious parties have rejected a proposal that would have provided government funding for the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. The proposal was created by MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) and MK Ronit Tirosh (Kadima), and called for the government to provide 30 percent of the funding for operations to neuter animals. The funding would have totaled approximately NIS 4.5 million each year.
The bill failed to pass a second and third hearing in the Knesset after lawmakers from Shas, UTJ, and NU/NRP voted it down. Halacha (Jewish law) prohibits neutering or spaying animals, the religious MKs explained. “There are no differences of opinion in this matter,” said UTJ MK Moshe Gafni. Erdan expressed annoyance, and accused the religious MKs of failing to protect animals due to “a questionable halachic clause.”