Seemingly bowing to Haredim, ministers halve fine hike for school violations

Amid pressure from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Haredi coalition partners, ministers in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation greenlight a softened version of an initiative to raise the fines for violations of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Most significantly, the fine for defying the ban on opening education institutions (other than preschools and grades 1-4) will be upped from NIS 5,000 ($1,467) to NIS 10,000 ($2,935) instead of the originally planned NIS 20,000 ($5,870).

The Haredi parties have insisted the fines for schools single out their community since the majority of institutions found to be violating the rules so far have been ultra-Orthodox. They have threatened to break with the coalition and vote against the bill to hike the taxes.

Perhaps so as not appear to be giving the Haredim special treatment, ministers agree that the current NIS 5,000 fine for holding a party, conference, ceremony, festival, entertainment or art show in violation of the rules will also be increased to NIS 10,000 instead of the originally proposed NIS 20,000.

In keeping with the original plan, however, businesses that open illegally will also face a fine of NIS 10,000, up from the current NIS 5,000.

Ynet quotes sources in the United Torah Judaism party rejecting the apparent compromise halving the proposed new fines and saying it was not discussed with them. It is not currently clear whether they will vote in favor of the bill in the plenum.