During a session of the Knesset Finance Committee on Monday, committee chairman, MK Moshe Gafne, addressed the appointment of a new deputy mayor in Haifa, Raja Za’atara, an outspoken supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah as well as criticizing an article by Israeli journalist for the right-wing Makor Rishon newspaper, Amnon Lord, who Gafne feels spoke out in a “racist fashion against chareidim” in regard to criticism he is holding back badly-needed funds for public transportation in protest against chilul Shabbos in Bnei Brak surrounding light rail construction.

“He wrote about the anti-Zionist coalition in Haifa” Gafne began, “I do not understand where this landed on us, an anti-Zionist coalition? Bayit Yehudi is there are well, and there is a long list of members of the coalition and Hadash was also in the coalition [with previous Haifa mayor, Yona] Yahav, but to call this an anti-Zionist coalition? So, the man sheds tears and I understand he is right wing so the coalition is anti-Zionist, and as such, the Knesset coalition is also anti-Zionist for chareidim are there – this testifies to his unprecedented fanaticism, speaking about Lord.

Gafne simply stated he does not understand what Lord wants from the chareidim, adding in the previous Knesset “he”, Lord, was not outspoken regarding how the chareidim in Haifa suffered due to the policies of Yahav against them.

Gafne was angered over media reports that he was delaying funding for public transportation over the Chilul Shabbos issue surrounding the Bnei Brak light rail, stating it is not the case and the delay is due to the Finance Ministry, not him.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)