Political Turmoil in the Finance Committee: Attempt to Approve Millions in Violation of the Law
Alleged Legal Breach by Committee Chairman
In a controversial move, Knesset Finance Committee Chairman Hanoch Milvitzky is reportedly attempting to bypass parliamentary regulations to approve a budget allocation of approximately 90 million shekels for political purposes in Judea and Samaria (Yosh). The request, which allegedly violates the Knesset’s rules, was submitted in the early hours of the morning, at 00:30, and controversially linked to the approval of balancing grants for local authorities, thus holding them as “hostages” to ensure the political funds’ approval.
Opposition Vostarts Concerns
Milvitzky has come under fire for preventing legal advisors from addressing the committee and for expelling opposition members who vostartd their protests. The Knesset regulations require that requests for budget transfers be submitted at least 48 hours prior to discussions. Additionally, the Finance Committee’s protocols mandate that year-end requests must be submitted by December 24th.
Vladimir Bliak, a member from the opposition party Yesh Atid, criticized the absence of necessary approvals from the opposition, emphasizing that such deviations require consent from all parties. He also suggested separating the financial requests to enable a proper discussion on the balancing grants without political attachments.
Tensions Rise Over Political Maneuvering
Commenting on the situation, Knesset member Naor Shiri described the situation as “disgusting and appalling,” accusing the Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of exploiting local authorities’ needs for political gain. Meanwhile, coalition leader Ofir Katz acknowledged that while the approach may not conform to standard procedures, the urgent needs of local authorities justify the move.
Opposition lawmakers have declared their willingness to support the approval of balancing grants but insist these should not be tied to political allocations. This necessitated a request for the legal advisors of the Knesset and the Finance Committee to attend the session; however, they ultimately did not enter the meeting room.
Procedural Irregularities and Defense from Officials
During the lengthy session, concerns were raised about procedural irregularities as Milvitzky continued discussions despite legal objections. Representative Noa Shukron from the budget division admitted that the request for local authorities’ balancing grants had been prepared several days in advance, indicating the request was strategically delayed to include political allocations for Yosh.
Milvitzky claimed that he had communicated with the Chief Accountant who informed him that if the budget transfers were approved before noon, the funds could be disbursed to local authorities on time.
In summary, the ongoing developments within the Finance Committee highlight significant tensions over budgetary allocation processes, the interplay of legal frameworks, and the political maneuvering at the heart of Israeli governance.
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Explore the unfolding political drama within Israel’s Finance Committee as Chairman Hanoch Milvitzky seeks to approve controversial budget allocations amidst allegations of legal violations and political manipulation, with vocal opposition from lawmakers.
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#IsraelPolitics #Knesset #FinanceCommittee #BudgetAllocation #PoliticalControversy #LegalRegulations #OppositionParty #LocalAuthorities #PoliticalManeuvering #HanochMilvitzky