With elections nearing, the chareidi mud-slinging is in full swing as Deputy Mayor (Shas) Tzuriel Krisfel, on Wednesday morning, 1 Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, announced there are city officials accepting bribes in exchange for granting building permits. He alleges “residents are being blackmailed into paying” in order to receive building permits.

Speaking with David Chacham on Kol Chai Radio, the Shas deputy mayor said if one comes to the city engineering department for example, “one must bring an envelope”, and “one can ask around to determine the validity of the statement I am sorry to say” he added.

He insisted he stands behind his words, explaining inspectors will knock on a resident’s door and inform him of building violations, which will disappear with payment.

He adds that he informed Mayor Porush of the alarming trend. “I spoke with and explained this will harm him. It is not my problem, let them apprehend them,” he added with a tone of authority.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)