The Knesset Finance Committee has approved the transfer of 80 million shekels ($20.6 million US) to the support fund for Torah study, despite the resistance of opposition parties.
Following the decision, MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu) said that "this is a blatantly unequal and unfair step that discriminates against students in favor of yeshiva students. It will lead to a situation in which, out of an increase of 300,000 students, only a small percentage will receive financial aid, while 100 percent of yeshiva students will get complete funding. This budget transfer is problematic and disappointing, and it again harms the students who work, do reserve duty, and give back to the country."