Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday, 21 Shevat, spoke to the press outside the Tel Aviv offices of the Jewish National Fund – Keren Kayemet Yisrael (JNF-KKL), vowing if he is in a position of power in the next government, he will nationalize the organization. Lapid explains that if permitted to move ahead with his plan, billions of shekels can be rerouted into the economy.

Lapid stressed that JNF was founded during the pre-state days as a temporary agency and it has since swelled to its current reality. He told the press “JNF also lubricates the wheels of corruption” and he feels the organization must be nationalized to bring an end to what occurs today.

The former finance minister added that JNF controls over 500,000 duman (2 million acres) and these lands must be used to build towards alleviating the national housing shortage. He accuses JNF of major corruption and operating without any accountability whatsoever, with board members around the word operating as they wish. He accused JNF of funneling 10 of millions of NIS to political organizations, making a point of stating Yesh Atid is not included on this list.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)