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Opposition blasts state attempt to assist major haredi school system in financial trouble

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Opposition blasts state attempt to assist major haredi school system in financial trouble

The coordinator of the opposition in Israel’s Knesset Finance Committee, MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), criticized on Thursday reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised to assist a major haredi school system affiliated with United Torah Judaism MK and Knesset Finance Committee chairman, MK Moshe Gafni, that is currently under legal scrutiny for financial mismanagement.

In a post on X, Beliak wrote that he had received “more and more reports” that Netanyahu had promised to find funding to aid the private haredi school system known as the Hinuch Ha’atzmai (literally “Independent Education”) pay its employees’ salaries and social security benefits for the month of July.

The school system has been in financial trouble since a report in February by the Finance Ministry’s Accountant General Yahali Rotenberg laid out a series of financial irregularities. Beliak accused the prime minister of attempting to unlawfully assist the school system in order to prevent a political rupture with his political ally, at least until the end of the Knesset summer session on July 28.

Beliak warned the “prime minister’s office, the head of the Knesset Finance Committee (Gafni) and all those who are involved in the matter – we are following closely. We will scour with an iron comb every relevant transfer (of funds) that arrives at the finance committee. We will conduct an uncompromising professional, parliamentary, and legal struggle, we will reflect the reality, and we will update regularly,” Beliak wrote.

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Moshe Gafni, Aryeh Deri (credit: Flash 90-)

Gafni threatened a number of weeks ago to quit his position as Knesset Finance Committee chair if a solution was not found to save the school system from bankruptcy, and the inability to do so could lead to a political rupture in the coalition. This could happen irrespective of another crisis regarding the end of the haredi exemption from IDF service.

Financial mismanagement led schools unable to pay salaries

Despite being privately run, the Hinuch Atzmai and its Shas-run counterpart, Bnei Yosef, enjoy special legal status and receive full state funding. The two systems have received over NIS three billion annually in state funding during the past few years, and they share characteristics with government bodies – they are directly connected to the government’s MERKAVA funding system, and they employ a finance-ministry-appointed accountant to run their finances. However, these school systems are not prone to the same level of oversight as public schools. The presence of the publicly appointed accountant has enabled the systems to avoid effective financial scrutiny, as they have argued that their finances are state-run and therefore not their responsibility.

However, the February report found that the Hinuch Haatzmai had bypassed its accountant and amassed a tax debt of over NIS 80 million, and another report found that the school system had accrued additional operational debts of over NIS 300m. The Hinuch Haatzmai is also facing dozens of challenges in court, including six class actions suits against alleged violations of employees’ rights, including unexplained salary deductions, unpaid work hours, and more. These legal challenges could lead to hundreds of millions of additional shekels of debt.

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As a result, the Hinuch Haatzmai in May suffered a bank account foreclosure, and at first was unable to pay its employees’ salaries in June. The Finance Ministry agreed to loan the necessary funds for June, but the system now faces the same challenge for July.

Rotenberg in February threatened that if a solution was not found by July 1, the Hinuch Atzmai and Bnei Yosef school systems would be disconnected from the government’s MERKAVA funding system, and the finance ministry would remove its accountant. This would force the systems to employ independent financial management, and bear full responsibility if it failed to meet tax requirements and financial commitments.

However, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister in the Education Ministry Haim Biton (Shas), and representatives from the Justice Ministry have attempted in recent weeks to come up with an arrangement that would lead to closer oversight of the systems, while keeping them afloat financially by continuing full state funding.

FINANCE MINISTRY representatives reasoned that if this did not happen, the Hinuch Hatzmai, which has over 100,000 students and thousands of employees, would collapse, and the state would need to intervene regardless.

Members of the opposition opposed such an arrangement, as did the Movement for Quality Government in Israel (MQG). In a letter dated July 2 to Rotenberg, Biton, Finance Ministry legal adviser Asi Messing, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, and State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, MQG called on the Finance Ministry to “publish clarifications to the arrangement that was made, the alternatives that were examined, and the implications on state coffers.”

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In an accompanying statement MQG said, “The new arrangement, the details of which have not yet been officially published, which is supposed to include the disconnection of the educational networks from the government’s Merkava system, the opening of separate bank accounts, and the hiring of accountants to supervise budgetary management, may even make the situation worse.”

MQG listed what it viewed as five problems in the arrangement:

First was “absence of substantive reform.” According to MQG, “The arrangement does not include significant structural or financial changes in the conduct of the networks.”

Second was “continued unlimited funding.” MQG argued that “despite the repeated warnings of the accountant-general and the attorney-general, the arrangement continues to allow funding of the private party-political educational networks, without a complete disconnection from the government budgets and without a plan to repay their debts.”

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MQG described the third problem as “increasing the state’s responsibility without compensation.” According to MQG, under the new arrangement, “The state takes on additional responsibility for the conduct of the networks, without requiring them to act in accordance with the rules of proper administration and the curricula of the ministry of education.”

The fourth problem, according to MQG, was a “lack of transparency,” as “the details of the arrangement and its consequences for the public have not been officially published, which raises serious concerns about the integrity of the process.”

Finally, MQG pointed out that Biton himself was the former manager of Bnei Yosef, and therefore was caught in a conflict of interest and should not have been involved in the negotiations.

MQG proposed the following steps:

“1. Full and transparent publication of the details of the arrangement that is being drawn up; 2. The establishment of a government inquiry committee to examine the set of relations between the state and the party-political education networks; 3. Re-examination of the funding model, incorporating the principles of transparency, equality and good governance; 4. Preventing the involvement of those who have a conflict of interest in the decision-making process; and 5. Creating a long-term plan to put the networks on a proper footing and to implement uniform standards throughout the education system.”

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Gafni’s office said in response to a Jerusalem Post query that it “did not know” about the issue. The prime minister’s office did not respond.



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Finance

Gold Purchases Accelerate as Dollar Confidence Wanes

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Gold Purchases Accelerate as Dollar Confidence Wanes

Central banks are scaling back on the dollar as institutional bullion buying climbs to record highs.

In the World Gold Council’s (WGC) latest annual survey of central banks, 83% of respondents expect to increase their gold holdings over the next year. That’s up from 76% in 2025. This surge in demand is due to the U.S. dollar’s waning preeminence in global reserves and the growing number of international crises. 

Almost three-quarters of central banks predict a lower share of global reserves held in greenbacks over the next five years, and a record 45% say they plan to increase their institutional bullion reserves over the next 12 months, up from 43% last year.

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Gold Overtakes Bonds as Ultimate Safe Haven

Gold recently overtook U.S. government bonds as the world’s top reserve asset, according to the June 16 report. The survey polled 76 central banks between February and May; most responses were received after the recent Mideast hostilities began. Greenbacks accounted for 42% of total reported reserves, including gold and foreign exchange, in the third quarter of last year, according to the International Monetary Fund. 

A record 90% of those polled by the WGC say gold’s performance during volatile periods is a key reason for acquiring more of it. Similarly, 82% say they value gold for portfolio diversification, and 84% value it as a long-term store of value. 

The metal’s role in hedging geopolitical risk is especially important among central bankers in developing and emerging markets, with 85% citing this factor.

Half of respondents seeking to procure more gold say they will finance such purchases through domestic purchase programs denominated in local currency, while 38% say they would buy more gold by selling existing reserve assets.

Global Shift in Gold Storage Strategy

Central banks also appear to be rethinking their gold storage strategy. The survey found that 9% of central banks increased domestic storage over the past year, while 10% say they diversified their overseas storage locations.

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The Bank of England remains the most popular gold storage location, cited by 57% of respondents, while the Swiss National Bank saw a sharp drop in preference, from 12% to 6% in 2025.

In the past four years, central banks have, on average, acquired 1,000 tonnes of gold annually, double the 500-tonne average of the previous decade. Mainland China’s bullion stores totaled 74.96 million troy ounces in late May, up 320,000 from April, marking the 19th consecutive month of increase, according to the People’s Bank of China.

Ajay Shamdasani is a contributing writer based in Hong Kong.

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SixCap Healthcare Finance Appoints Carroll as Senior Relationship Manager

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SixCap Healthcare Finance Appoints Carroll as Senior Relationship Manager

SixCap Healthcare Finance added Dan Carroll as senior relationship manager, reporting to the company’s co-founder and chief investment officer, Dan Whitwer.

Carroll brings more than 20 years of commercial finance, portfolio management and healthcare asset-based lending experience to SixCap. Throughout his career, he has managed complex healthcare lending relationships, led portfolio management teams, overseen loan closings and partnered closely with borrowers to support growth while maintaining disciplined credit management.

Most recently, Carroll held leadership positions at Siena, CNH Finance and Triumph Healthcare Finance, building extensive expertise in healthcare lending, credit analysis, loan structuring, risk management and client relationship management.

In his new role, Carroll will oversee borrower relationships across SixCap’s growing healthcare portfolio, working closely with clients to provide proactive portfolio management, responsive service and financing solutions that evolve alongside their businesses.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dan to the SixCap team,” Whitwer said. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Dan and have seen firsthand the integrity, experience and thoughtful approach he brings to every client relationship. He understands healthcare, he understands asset-based lending and, most importantly, he understands the value of building lasting partnerships. As our portfolio continues to grow, Dan’s leadership and commitment to exceptional client service make him a tremendous addition to our team.”

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Big financing steps forward for The 78, Foundry Park projects

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Big financing steps forward for The 78, Foundry Park projects

Two of Chicago’s most pivotal but challenging undeveloped sites — Foundry Park on the North Side and the vacant South Loop parcel known as The 78 — moved forward in a big way Wednesday before the City Council adjourned for a summer recess.

Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced a $201.6 million tax increment financing subsidy for JDL Development’s scaled back vision for North Side industrial land along the Chicago River that once was supposed to be home to the Lincoln Yards megaproject.

And despite a slew of concerns from Council members, the full Council approved a $425 million TIF for The 78, a reference to Chicago’s unofficial 78th community area. The subsidy will bankroll public improvements needed for the South Loop development, anchored by a $750 million soccer stadium privately financed by Chicago Fire billionaire owner Joe Mansueto.

Downtown Ald. Bill Conway (34th), whose adjacent TIF is being raided to help The 78, again refused to go along with the $250.1 million piece of the infrastructure package that will primarily be used to build a 1,200-space parking garage. The $216 million garage will serve as the “podium” for an open-air plaza and future high-rise development on the air rights above the garage.

Referring to the Bears’ long-running stadium saga, Conway said Wednesday he appreciates the Fire “not trying to move to Hammond, Indiana, and become the Hammond Sparks.” But he said he “cannot look the taxpayers in the eye and tell them” he supported spending “$250 million to build a stadium parking garage and plaza.”

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Finance Chair Pat Dowell, whose 3rd Ward includes The 78, has argued that the podium “brings the site to grade at Roosevelt Road” and is the key to “unlocking the site from the isolation that has stalled every previous development proposal.”

Deputy Planning Commissioner Jeff Cohen made that same point Wednesday, with a new wrinkle.

“The idea here is to incorporate that garage into the podium,” Cohen said. “It’s addressing a design and development plan that allows for all of the land within The 78 to be open for investment, rather than having to have either temporary or permanent surface parking lots to accommodate the car traffic.”

An artist’s rendering of the planned Chicago Fire soccer stadium at The 78 in the South Loop.

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The $201.6 million subsidy proposed for Foundry Park pales by comparison to the $1.3 billion that former Mayor Rahm Emanuel once proposed for Lincoln Yards. That massive subsidy became a political lightning rod, with the avalanche of criticism led by the Chicago Teachers Union and then-union organizer Brandon Johnson.

The $201.6 million subsidy that Johnson introduced at Wednesday’s Council meeting is more likely to be criticized for being too little.

It will support just over 25% of the $800 million worth of roads, bridges, utilities and mass transit improvements that 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins has said were mandated as part of the Lincoln Yards plan.

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Foundry Park developer Jim Letchinger acknowledged that there is “other infrastructure that the neighborhood would like to see done that is not possible right now.”

But Letchinger added it’s a start that includes the long-promised extension of the popular 606 Trail. “If you don’t start with something that’s achievable, you can’t achieve anything.”

“We have a plan to actually start building and creating revenue right away in conjunction with building our infrastructure … A lot of parks. Massive riverwalk. Ten acres of public open space. Very usable, very engaging,” Letchinger said Wednesday.

“As we continue to build, since we’re not using anywhere near all the increment that we’re creating, the other increment can go toward other projects that the neighborhood would like to see — whether it’s to build a bridge or fixing Elston Avenue, or anything else that they’re anxious about,” he said.

Public improvements promised to residents, but not covered by the $201.6 million subsidy, include another bridge crossing the Chicago River and a realignment of Elston Avenue, which Letchinger called a positive move in the long run, but a “massive undertaking” complicated by cost and property control.

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“No private developer can realign Elston. It’s impossible. The city is the only one that can do that, and they’re working on it. There’s plans for it. But it will take a very long time,” Lechtinger said.

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) said there is “one bridge that a lot of people still want,” but it goes through private properties owned by Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete and several other owners.

“The city would have to do it as a taking [of property], and that would be in the hundreds of millions of dollars. So they took that off the table because … that bridge wasn’t necessary at this time,” Waguespack told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Letchinger’s plan for roughly 34 vacant acres of the site calls for up to 3,737 residences, 20% of them designated as affordable to comply with the city’s set-aside rules. The new design includes low- to mid-rise buildings, some for offices, grouped near open space and riverfront access. Buildings would get ground-floor retail, and one is slated as a boutique hotel.

The project’s reduced density has drawn praise from residents. And Waguespack said he’s satisfied with the reduced public subsidy.

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“In the future if there’s more needed, we could go back and do it. But this is much more grounded in a realistic infrastructure project that will still satisfy all the needs of connecting the neighborhoods,” Waguespack said.

Hopkins said he views the scaled-down subsidy and the infrastructure projects as “wholly inadequate” and a broken promise to Lincoln Park and Bucktown residents.

“Lincoln Yards provided for two bridges with the possibility of a third. Foundry Park has zero,” Hopkins said. “I don’t want to move on a vague verbal promise that we might consider adding a bridge later. The time to add it is now while the redevelopment agreement is still pending. And the fact that it was omitted is tragic. Also, the [Elston-Armitage] intersection redesign and the new Metra station seems to have fallen by the wayside.”

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Johnson proposed a tax break for Chicago’s booming film and television industries — by reducing the 15% personal property lease transaction tax to 11%.

The tax has been raised twice in recent years and was the biggest piece of the revenue package that helped balance the $16.7 billion budget for 2026. It has exceeded revenue projections by $40.3 million through June 30, allowing Johnson to offer the break in hopes of attracting more film and TV productions to Chicago.

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The City Council also followed a trail blazed by Gov. JB Pritzker and his counterparts in six other states by prohibiting present and former city employees — and elected officials — from using insider information to bet on prediction markets. Apps including Kalshi and Polymarket are used to place bets on everything from election winners and the number of candidates entering a specific race for office, to budgetary and foreign policy decisions by elected officials.

Championed by Ald. Timmy Knudsen (43rd), the ordinance prohibits current or former city officials, appointees and employees from using “confidential information or any non-public information, including the identity of the subject of an investigation” to either participate in prediction markets or “assist any other person” placing those bets.

The Council also confirmed Johnson’s appointment of Dr. Garth Walker as the city’s public health commissioner.

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