Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded this evening (Thursday) to comments made by the chairman of the left-wing Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, regarding the Chief of Staff's demand for an immediate transfer of a budget to the IDF.
""The Minister of Finance is lying," Eisenkot wrote in his X-account. "It is possible and obligatory to provide an immediate response to the urgent needs of the IDF, without abandoning the public purse and without opening the budget in three readings.
""After the October 7 debacle, we would expect the government to learn at least one lesson: Israel's security needs are not negotiable or time-consuming. But once again, political considerations outweigh national responsibility.".
Minister Smotrich responded to the leftist leader's attack: "Hello, Gadi. First of all, you cannot talk about reconciliation and healing and then express yourself like the last of the talkbackists and spread hatred and division.
""Second, just before you ignorantly determine that I'm lying, I invite you to a meeting in my office. I'll explain to you how the budget law works, what fiscal frameworks are, and what the legal way is to break through the budget framework and increase it.
""This information will serve you as a fighting opposition after the elections.".
""Thirdly, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, I forgive you with all my heart and wish you and your family a happy new year and good writing and signing.".
