Smotrich: The Negev Is Not a Stepchild of the State of Israel | Dr. Esther Luzzatto

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is trying to block the budget for the light rail in Be'er Sheva, contrary to Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to advance the project. The author argues that this is a disregard for government decisions and a direct harm to Likud voters in the Negev, while comparing it to a preference for budgets for Judea and Samaria.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich continues to try to block the budget for the light rail in Be'er Sheva, contrary to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to advance the project. The author, Dr. Esther Luzzatto, argues that this is a disregard for government decisions and a direct harm to the Likud voting public in the Negev. She describes the struggle over the IDF's move to the Negev, including the opposition of former Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, and the decision last May to advance a light rail. According to her, Smotrich is blocking the budget through bureaucratic maneuvers, while preferring budgets for Judea and Samaria. She calls on Netanyahu to stand by his decision and release the budgets, claiming that this is a supreme test during an election period.