The chairman of the Degel Hatorah faction of Yahadut Hatorah, MK Moshe Gafne, spoke out on Tuesday against MK Avigdor Lieberman, who chairs the Yisrael Beitenu party and continues running a vehemently anti-chareidi election campaign.

Party MK Yaakov Margi is calling for a session of the Finance Committee to discuss tax benefits for residents of yishuvim, as for some of these communities, the benefits they enjoy today are scheduled to expire during the election period.

According to Gafne, “I was approached on the subject by a number of persons. I feel that in this case, Lieberman halted the nation. One of the ramifications [of his actions] is the entire nation stopped, and one of these matters is tax benefits. Last time, we calculated this and addressed the tax benefits prior to dissolving Knesset.

“This is not a simple matter, even without elections we would rack our heads deciding what to do with this, and now, the situation is far more complicated, especially with everything paralyzed. Alongside this, Paragraph 38 (to the Basic Law, which dictates the system’s actions during an election period) deals with benefits. According to the committee’s legal advisor, the benefits apply, and therefore, the tax benefits continue until following elections and then we will rack our brains. Hence, we will not convene a session of the committee for this”.

MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Oded Forer retorted, “It wasn’t Lieberman who caused these elections, and it was not the matter of tax benefits, or afternoon programs, with none having a connection to elections. Regarding the benefits, I believe Paragraph 38 is applicable. Regarding the afternoon [daycare programs], if the finance minister wishes, the treasury will honor the situation as many budgets are forwarded and the matter can be solved with funding, which can be extended until October.

“There is no connection here to elections. We cannot transfer millions while permitting the afternoon programs to remain at the side”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)