Road 2411, which connects Ofakim to Sde Yemen and further to Beer Sheva, opened this week and made many drivers in the south happy.
However, Ofakim Mayor Itzik Danino's decision to name the road after former Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon is puzzling, at best.
"The choice of the name is delusional, and in my opinion it serves the personal interests of the mayor's family," says Gideon Sabgi, chairman of the opposition in the Ofakim municipality. "We have a new government and there are many others who helped in the previous governments, including Israel Katz who supported and gave a great deal of money.
Where is Kahlon in the matter?
He is not a public figure and he is still alive, may he live long."
Kahlon and we discussed the "Price for a Tenant" project in Ofakim, photo: Dodo Greenspan
In Sabgi's opinion, there may be hidden motives behind the choice of Kahlon.
"It's not just me - every sane person understands that there is some issue here," he says.
"Kahlon today serves as the chairman of a company, as far as I understand, of loans.
It is possible that there are interests of friends, family, maybe people who are close to the mayor and have taken loans for all kinds of projects.
By and large, this is the story.
I of course congratulate the road that was paved, but to call it after Kahlon is a joke."
"The name is really weird"
The new road significantly shortens the road from Ofakim to the capital of the Negev, and provides a solution to the problem of traffic jams during rush hours on the Beer Sheva-Ofakim-Netivot route.
The road was opened in a solemn ceremony on Sunday, with the participation of Kahlon.
In Ofakim there were also those who focused on the essence of the opening of the road, and not on the name.
"I welcome the opening of the new road. It will reduce the traffic jams and help the residents of the city and the region. Regarding the name - it's really strange, but for me it's secondary. I focus on issues that will advance the city," said Ofakim city council member Tal Magra.
Many other residents of the city were also happy that the road was opened and did not give much importance to the name chosen for it.
Around Kahlon, they preferred not to comment on things.
the invitation to the ceremony,
Kahlon and Dino.
"There may be ulterior motives", photo: Dodo Greenspan
The mayor of Ofakim, Itzik Danino, said in response: "Ofakim owes a great debt to former finance minister Moshe Kahlon, because without his direct involvement the Ofakim - Sde Yemen road, a project that created a turning point in the city, would not have come to fruition. In those days, we faced a plan to freeze the construction of This important road. Only an appeal to Minister Kahlon resulted in the breakthrough that allowed the start of the works."
Danino added that "the road will be a significant and necessary traffic artery for the residents of the Afiki Nahal neighborhood, where over 7,500 housing units have already been sold. The road will significantly shorten the travel time to Beer Sheva, create an additional entrance to the city and be a significant consideration in the decision of thousands of new residents to come to Ofakim and to settle in it. I had the honor of inviting the former minister Moshe Kahlon, who currently does not serve in a public or political position, to be the guest of honor at the event of the reading of the section of road located in Ofakim's jurisdiction after him, and I am happy that he accepted the invitation."
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