The Shas faction on Wednesday sharply attacked Justice Stein's decision to freeze budget transfers, accusing the High Court of becoming 'a branch of the opposition'. Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz also condemned the ruling, calling it 'unrestrained rampage'. The statements escalate the ongoing judicial-executive confrontation over coalition-directed funds.
The political backlash against the High Court's budget freeze intensified Wednesday afternoon as the Shas faction and Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz issued sharp condemnations.
Shas accused Justice Stein, who issued the freeze order, of turning the High Court into 'a branch of the opposition.' Katz, who had criticized the court earlier in the day, reiterated his charge of 'unrestrained rampage,' calling the decision a blow to the coalition's legislative agenda.
The reactions come hours after the High Court published its full ruling, which carved out an emergency exception for civilian needs while freezing hundreds of millions of shekels in coalition-directed funds. As The Zioneer reported at 14:46, Justice Stein's order cited procedural flaws in the Finance Committee's approval process. The Shas statement and Katz's remarks represent the most vocal coalition response so far, escalating the ongoing judicial-executive confrontation.
The frozen funds include allocations for Haredi education and communities in Judea and Samaria, according to earlier reports. Opponents of the freeze, including coalition lawmakers, have accused the court of overstepping its authority.
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