The Knesset's Finance Committee last night (Tuesday) approved the transfer of coalition funds, with NIS 12 million of which was allocated for the care of stray cats.
The funding caused a media storm and today Foreign Minister Lapid responded to the criticism: "The care of cats is significant for humans, the environment and a clean and friendly urban space."
Foreign Minister Lapid noted that the budget was initiated by MK Jasmine Sachs Friedman and said: "The network was immediately filled with ridicule and poison on 'a government that cares for cats', so I also decided to say something about this money: it's too little."
"NIS 12 million is less than 0.003% of the state budget," the minister noted.
"This is all we have managed to budget this time for animal care. Anyone who loves animals knows that it is not enough. Treatment of stray cats for example is also significant for humans. To pollute the environment, prevent the spread of mice and rats, create a clean and friendly urban space."
"So it's easiest to laugh, and easiest to underestimate, but it's hard to dedicate your life to something. Jasmine has devoted most of her life to animals, preventing abuse, preventing suffering. Anyone who thinks it's funny just proves the ancient principle that whoever hates animals hates people too." , Lapid concluded.
