"There is a substantive disagreement here, and it is unfortunate that there are those who preach to others against hatred, but themselves fan the flames of hatred. It is better for these unknown elements to address the issues themselves and explain how these budgets are appropriate in times of war, than to deal with turning the dispute into a personal matter or increasing polarization among the people," Minister Hili Tropper (State Camp) responded Monday to claims made against him in the ultra-Orthodox parties that he is leading the economic subsystem in his party, in light of Minister Benny Gantz's demand to cut coalition funds.
"In a substantive dispute I will take part - from ridiculous briefings and full of hostility. And our sages have already said that it is better to be offended and not offended," Tropper said.
The ultra-Orthodox parties said of Tropper: "Shai Piron's chief of staff is trying to take us back 20 years. All professional bodies support programs such as "New Horizon" for ultra-Orthodox teachers. If Gantz thinks he can hide behind a state façade and act on behalf of budget department officials, he is making a serious mistake."
Defense Minister Gantz congratulates Trooper at farewell ceremony at Culture Ministry | Itzik Biran
The cabinet meeting is expected to approve NIS 30 billion for war budgets, NIS 17 billion for defense purposes, and NIS 13 billion for war-related civilian needs. According to Ministry of Finance estimates, the war will cost NIS 200 billion, and those around Smotrich are furious with Gantz, who is causing difficulties and public criticism over a marginal sum of NIS 200 million in dispute, such as the issue of cutting yeshiva budgets, Jewish culture, and more.
The tension over the budget was published last Thursday in Israel Hayom. A discussion with Netanyahu, Smotrich, Gantz and Trooper ended without agreement, with Gantz demanding that coalition funds not be transferred that are not intended for war purposes, and Netanyahu and Smotrich claiming that they have cut budget additions and diverted funds for war purposes, and that the remaining funds are intended for security purposes and are intended to cover commitments that have already been given.
In a letter sent by the state camp to the prime minister, they wrote: "Transferring coalition funds and funds for ministerial use unrelated to the war, as the finance minister wants to promote these days, will harm Israeli resilience and cohesion that exists in Israeli society. At this time, Israeli society as a whole must go under the stretcher, the entire public knows this, and the Israeli government should do the same. We are facing enormous economic and social challenges down the road as well, and a deficit that is expected to grow significantly and affect the economy."
"At this time, all available money must go to the needs of the war – and to them alone," Gantz wrote, "I reiterate my demand to divert all possible coalition resources and funds that have not yet been exhausted to fiscal year 2023 and, accordingly, to 2024 immediately to the needs of the war and its derivatives. If the meeting takes place and the budget remains in place, the state camp faction will vote against the proposed budget and consider its next steps."
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on Facebook in response to the letter from members of the state camp: "It is sad that there are those who are able to hint at the thought of dismantling this important unity because of several hundred million shekels that he does not like, and as mentioned, six months ago were budgeted within the state budget, out of the approximately two hundred billion that this war will cost. This is a percentage of the budget and about one-tenth and a half percent of the total estimated cost of the war. Those who do not know how to compromise with their partners and respect their opinions, even if they think otherwise, do not understand what unity is.
"Without the budget being approved by the government and the Knesset urgently, it will not be possible to budget for the continued stay of the evacuees in hotels, it will not be possible to budget the Takuma Administration and begin to bring the residents of the envelope home, it will not be possible to budget the local authorities on the conflict lines, the needs of health, welfare, and more.
"I hope," Smotrich wrote, "that our partners in the emergency government in the state camp will come to their senses, show the necessary national responsibility and vote in favor of this important supplementary budget for the victory of the State of Israel on the front and on the home front."
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