Speaking with Kol Chai Radio on Wednesday morning 15 Teves 5774, MK Rav Yaakov Asher explained the government failed miserably in its handling of the record breaking snowstorm.
Asher was referring to the nationally televised press conference on motzei Shabbos the eve of 12 Teves. It was during that media event that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat held what was to have appeared to be a briefing session. The event was attended by representative of emergency agencies taking part in the blizzard response, with many of them addressing the forum on live TV.
Asher compared that press event, which he labeled “a farce” to the recent media scandal surrounding the imposter sign language interpreter at the funeral of Nelson Mandela.
Asher explained that with all forecasters predicting a major storm the national and local governments could have and should have placed a number of agencies on standby mode, to inform officials they must stand by with the realization they may be activated. He explained that it took the IDF and other agencies two days to begin operating when the response should have come in a matter of hours.
Asher added that he was also angered by the fact that the prime minister failed to mention a single chareidi volunteer agency in his statements of thanks for the hard work and mesirus nefesh by government agencies when everyone is aware of the fact that while those government agencies were getting their act together, Ichud Hatzalah, Ezer Mizion, ZAKA and others were rescuing stranded motorists and responding to emergency calls. Asher feels that such an acknowledgement was necessary davka today, at a time when the chareidim are referred to in a negative light.
The chareidi MK denied allegations that he and his colleagues would not be as vocal in their criticism if they were coalition members. He stated this is simply not true for the failures on the part of government demand a response and this is not in any way related to being in the coalition or opposition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Personally I don’t believe any other government would have succeed in alleviating the problems, trauma, and difficulties of the g-d sent, snow storm.
We have been without power & heat, impassable streets, no public transportation, businesses closed etc. when massive snow storms hit New York. I remember no snow plows, no salting and no school for 3-4 days.
Thanks should be given and there is no really why they weren’t, except maybe the PM was not informed of all the exceptional Charedi volunteers.
Rav Asher,
Here’s what an orthodox Israeli wrote about the storm:
“… considering that the last time the region experienced such a bad storm was some 150 years ago, how well prepared can the authorities be?
We appreciate all of the workers from the electric company, the regional municipalities, the IDF and the emergency agencies who are working tirelessly around the clock, out in the thick of this harsh weather, to do their best to provide solutions for the people suffering. It is really amazing how Israel’s society mobilizes to help in situations such as these….”
Why are you then throwing the Chareidi vs. Them poison in the pot??