Opposition Claims 'Election Bribery' in Finance Committee – Then the Golden Evidence Was Produced | Watch

Opposition members called the convening of the Finance Committee during the election period 'election bribery,' but MK Yinon Azoulay of Shas presented protocols showing that a similar move was approved in the Bennett-Lapid government a week before elections. MK Miki Levy, who claimed the clause had not been used for 20 years, had used it himself in the past. Shas responded: 'Political hypocrisy.'

In a discussion held today (Tuesday) in the Knesset Finance Committee, opposition members attacked the convening of the committee during the election period, calling the transfer of funds to the Haredi public 'election bribery.' In response, MK Yinon Azoulay of Shas presented protocols showing that a similar move was approved in the Bennett-Lapid government, a week before the previous elections. The discussion was made possible thanks to Article 112b of the Knesset Rules, approved by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and the Knesset's legal adviser, Adv. Sagit Afik. During the discussion, MK Miki Levy claimed that 'the clause has not been used for 20 years,' but the protocols show that during his tenure as Knesset Speaker, he himself used the same clause to convene the committee a week before elections, and coalition funds were approved for the Yesh Atid, Yamina, and Yisrael Beiteinu parties. The Shas party responded: 'What has changed? Not the law, not the clause, and not the procedure – only the identity of the government. What was completely legitimate when the Bennett-Lapid government did it has suddenly become 'election bribery' when the current government acts in the same way. Political hypocrisy.'