Religion Magazine
At a recent conference in Bet Shemesh, organized by Mayor Shmuel 'Shmulik' Greenberg, Minister of Housing Yitzchak Goldknopf made a statement that got him in some trouble. During his talk he said that even housing that had been designated for the general public has been redirected and sold for the Haredi public specifically. He would not give details, but that is what he said.
Since then members of the Likud (and maybe other coalition parties as well) got upset. There were calls, all from within the coalition, for Goldknopf to be fired for this, for taking away housing designated for the general public and illegally redirecting it to the Haredi public, while the Haredi public already has a lot of housing being built for it [in Bet Shemesh]. The blitz against Goldknopf was led by Minister Amichai Chikli. Chikli said the coalition is large enough and stable enough and they can and should fire Goldknopf, they dont need a minister who cares nothing for the miluimnikim, the Reservists and other soldier.
After a torrent of criticism in today's government meeting, Goldknopf issued an apology. Goldknopf said that he apologizes for the way he spoke at the conference last Wednesday. "To remove any doubt, the Ministry of Housing acts in accordance with the law, and in opposition to how people with personal interests tried to explain his words, nothing was done against the rules. The Ministry acts to benefit all sectors and populations in Israel and I apologize for how I presented my words".
So he says he didn't break the law but he does not say he did not redirect the housing from the general public to the Haredi public. Funny apology, but it seems to have been accepted. Sorry for getting caught, forgetting that other people might hear this. Nobody explained his words like that - he said it explicitly and there is video all over the internet of him saying it. We'll see how this progresses - will it die down and go away or will the heat increase?
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Since then members of the Likud (and maybe other coalition parties as well) got upset. There were calls, all from within the coalition, for Goldknopf to be fired for this, for taking away housing designated for the general public and illegally redirecting it to the Haredi public, while the Haredi public already has a lot of housing being built for it [in Bet Shemesh]. The blitz against Goldknopf was led by Minister Amichai Chikli. Chikli said the coalition is large enough and stable enough and they can and should fire Goldknopf, they dont need a minister who cares nothing for the miluimnikim, the Reservists and other soldier.
After a torrent of criticism in today's government meeting, Goldknopf issued an apology. Goldknopf said that he apologizes for the way he spoke at the conference last Wednesday. "To remove any doubt, the Ministry of Housing acts in accordance with the law, and in opposition to how people with personal interests tried to explain his words, nothing was done against the rules. The Ministry acts to benefit all sectors and populations in Israel and I apologize for how I presented my words".
So he says he didn't break the law but he does not say he did not redirect the housing from the general public to the Haredi public. Funny apology, but it seems to have been accepted. Sorry for getting caught, forgetting that other people might hear this. Nobody explained his words like that - he said it explicitly and there is video all over the internet of him saying it. We'll see how this progresses - will it die down and go away or will the heat increase?
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