Minister of Transportation Miri Regb criticized Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in a government meeting, accusing Finance Ministry officials of blocking infrastructure projects. Regb demanded that the ministry allow her to redirect funds to projects including the Safed hospital and the Rabbi Meir Baal Haness hospital, saying the block is illegitimate.
A public clash erupted in the Israeli cabinet this afternoon between Transportation Minister Miri Regb and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over what Regb called 'the rule of Finance Ministry officials.' According to reports from the meeting, Regb accused the Finance Ministry's professional staff of blocking budget transfers from her ministry to national infrastructure projects, specifically citing the Safed hospital and the Rabbi Meir Baal Haness hospital. She said, 'Enough with the rule of the clerks! Allow us to transfer budgets from the Transportation Ministry for vital national infrastructure.' The dispute reflects ongoing tensions within the governing coalition over ministerial autonomy and the Finance Ministry's gatekeeping role over cross-ministry budget allocation.
2 developments
- StrongSmotrich says Gaza deal bad for Israel, vows to continue campaign in 'creative ways'
- DevelopingBogey Ya'alon reportedly compares Finance Minister Smotrich to Hitler and Nazis
- StrongSmotrich unveils plan to build thousands of housing units, turn Giv'ot into a town
- DevelopingSmotrich, treasury officials meet high-tech leaders as shekel pressure mounts
Source and signal
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- Internal intake