The organization of the religious LGBT organization, Havruta, warned Sunday morning against approving the budget approaching half a billion shekels, which was approved for Knesset Member Avi Maoz for the purpose of establishing the "Authority to Strengthen Jewish Identity."
Last week, a sum of NIS 285 million was approved for Maoz MK as part of the budget discussions. This is in addition to the NIS 125 million promised to him in the first year of the government and NIS 175 million for the following year, as part of the coalition agreements.
The letter claimed that "the main activity of Maoz MK and his faction is not in strengthening Jewish identity, but in activity that mainly harms groups among Israeli citizens – advocacy aimed at delegitimizing our families, pushing public servants and civil servants belonging to our community out of public service, and delaying welcome processes in various government ministries, mainly welcoming the citizens of the state and integrating vulnerable populations into the general public."
Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The letter was signed by the organization's chairmen – Shai Bramson and Jonathan Gil Rossen Maman and Havruta CEO Netanel Scheller.
It added: "The budget for this agency... To be allocated, in accordance with the wishes of the head of the Agency, to actions whose main objective is deliberately causing harm to the LGBT public in Israel – this budget is larger than all the budgets allocated in the entire history of the State of Israel for assistance to LGBT populations – whether in government ministries and local authorities, or in support of NGOs (about NIS 70 million in a generous estimate, ever)."
Bramson, who has undergone "conversion therapy" himself, added: "LGBT-phobic education programs, support for dangerous 'conversion therapy' and increasing hatred towards us and our families will all put our community at risk and under pressure. It's anti-Jewish, anti-national, and blasphemy."
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