Finance Ministry clerks recommend shutting down Diaspora Ministry amid war

This move is part of a broader plan proposed by the Finance Ministry to reallocate funds amid ongoing military engagements.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen during a press conference, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. April 30, 2023 (photo credit: ALEX KOLOMOISKY/POOL)
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen during a press conference, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. April 30, 2023
(photo credit: ALEX KOLOMOISKY/POOL)

Finance Ministry clerks recommended the closure of several ministries, including the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, as reported by Hebrew economic media.

This move is part of a broader plan proposed by the Finance Ministry to reallocate funds amid ongoing military engagements.

Both representatives of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that there is no immediate threat to the ministry.

The Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, known for its crucial role in maintaining and strengthening the connections between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, is among the six ministries earmarked for closure.

Concerns within the diaspora 

This decision has sparked significant concern within the global Jewish Diaspora, who view the ministry as a vital link to the Israeli state.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been at the forefront of this budgetary reshuffling. Despite the urgency to adjust fiscal policies due to the war, Smotrich is reportedly delaying the decision to partially freeze coalition funds.

 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen at a press conference, at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on January 25, 2023.  (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen at a press conference, at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on January 25, 2023. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Last week, he announced a plan to partially cut the coalition funds for 2023, diverging from the recommendation of his office’s budget division to cut the funds entirely.

The minister is expected to bring the budget amendment to the government next week for approval before it proceeds to legislation.

Further emphasizing the government’s focus on war funding, Gali Baharav-Miara, the government’s legal adviser, ruled that non-war-related coalition funds would be frozen. This ruling potentially reallocates resources initially intended for political agreements to the war effort.

Proposed by the clerks is the closure of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry, along with five additional ministries: Jerusalem Affairs, Heritage, Settlement and National Missions, Regional Cooperation, and Social Equality.


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