Just a day after the Knesset voted to dissolve and head to elections, Yair Lapid is out campaigning and he has chosen to point the finger of blame on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the chareidi parties in Knesset. He cited the Knesset Finance Committee approval of funds for yishuvim throughout Yehuda and Shomron earlier this week. He alleges that “Prime Minister Netanyahu will hand over tens of millions to Shas so the latter supports funding yishuvim to the tune of 100 million shekels”.

He boasts that for the past two years his party has been the sole barrier preventing such deals. He adds that just a few short weeks ago he prevented approval of 300 million shekels to isolated yishuvim but not that he is gone, the distribution of funds is underway.

“This money is needed in Beersheva and Kiryat Shmona and no on the access road to Tapuach or Yitzhar” Lapid exclaimed, adding “Now the prime minister wants to pay bribes so they permit him to continue paying bribes. The time has come to say no, the nation is not for sale”.

Deri stated the money his party received was approved in the past and there has been no deal-making as Lapid alleges. He explained the approval came during the tenure of Education Minister Shai Piron. Deri was referring to the Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday 17 Kislev approving 80 million shekels, 38 million NIS for Shas’ Mayan Chinuch education network and an additional 42 million NIS to “Torani yeshivos”.

Responding from Likud was MK Gila Gamliel, who explained that during his tenure as finance minister Lapid approved the funds in question and now that he was fired from his post he appears to have changed his position.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)