Another headache for Smotrich: Minister of the Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Yitzhak Wasserlauf sent a letter to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in which he strongly condemned the cuts that will be imposed on his ministry. "We were elected to lead a change in the priorities of the State of Israel, but the residents of the Negev and Galilee are not your top priority," he wrote.
The letter was sent after Otzma Yehudit's election promise to contribute to the Negev region, when the party ran together with Religious Zionism. "The Negev and Galilee face many challenges that require immediate and significant government action. In addition, the welcome coping with extending life expectancy also requires significant budgets to promote the population of senior citizens under my ministry's responsibility," he wrote, adding: "To my surprise, yesterday in the government decision brought by you, it was discovered that all the ministries have sufficient coalition funds, including NIS 1.3 billion for the Ministry of Settlements, and only for residents of the Negev Galilee and senior citizens there is no suitable budget left."
"Smotrich, come to your senses and take care of a budget worthy of the name." Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf (archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The minister added: "The cuts will require the ministry to cancel plans to encourage positive migration to the Negev and Galilee, to develop employment, health and education in these areas. It will stop our ability to develop urban and rural settlements in the Negev and Galilee and will thwart the establishment of new settlements such as Ramat Arbel. We were elected in order to bring about a change in the priorities of the State of Israel, and to raise the Negev and Galilee to the top of the list of priorities. I hope you come to your senses and take care of a budget worthy of the name."
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