Yaakov Litzman was among the chareidi MKs addressing the eighth annual Hamodia Conference in the Jerusalem Convention Center on Tuesday, 24 Tammuz 5773. Following is a synopsis of his remarks.

Litzman lashed out at the leaders of the coalition government, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Minister of Economic Affairs Naftali Bennett.

Litzman focused on “sectoral” cuts in state funding, explaining how the administration seeks to blame the chareidim for everything. He cited how government officials wish to paint a picture as if chareidim are the only ones who receive monthly child allowance payments – adding towards strengthening this position there is a movement in the direction towards reducing or eliminating the payments for families earning tens of thousands NIS monthly.

“If the cut was actually legitimate, why not also cut payments to the elderly” he asked rhetorically. “It is simple. Such a move is not popular or populist and therefore, it will not occur since there are only gezeiros that are perceived as anti-chareidi, for this the tzibur at large will accept.”

Wishing to give another example, Litzman used the new tax on alcoholic beverages. He explained Lapid expressed opposition to the tax, blaming his predecessor, Dr. Steinitz, yet the current finance minister has no problem cutting the program he initiated in the last Knesset, subsidized dental care for all children.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)