Finance Minister (Yesh Atid) Yair Lapid has ordered halting all government funding for the Yesha Council, the official body representing yishuvim throughout Yehuda and Shomron.

The senior minister learned the council directed some of the funding intended for yishuvim to affiliated non profits, including using a portion of the funding to finance campaigns against government policy. Lapid and other critics fear the funding was not used for education or other projects in yishuvim, but some was unilaterally allocated by the council for affiliated organizations, which include running campaigns opposing the two-state solution with the PA (Palestinian Authority).

Lapid responded to a Channel 2 TV News report which uncovered the actions of the council. The minister’s office is now seeking to verify the integrity of the report vis-à-vis state funding for yishuvim that should have been distributed in its entirety to various communities and not redirected elsewhere. That report is expected to be completed within one week. Treasury officials point out that the office is dealing with money that was allocated at the end of the previous Knesset’s administration.

Opposition leader MK Yitzchak Herzog stated “For those wondering why housing prices continue to increase as the government looks on helplessly can find the answer in the absurd grants given to the settlements. Tens of millions of NIS that could help in the Negev and Galil were secretly transferred.”

Herzog is referring to money that was reportedly given as compensatory payment for the building freeze. Herzog is calling on the Office of the State Comptroller to investigate the entire matter.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)