Smotrich responds to the strike: "I won't break under pressure and threats"

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich responded today to the announcement of the Federation of Local Authorities' strike scheduled for tomorrow and criticized Haim Bibas: "He is employing a provocation to extort money without control and supervision, to the Arab authorities and from there to criminal and terror organizations."

According to the minister, "We will act to prevent the reckless and irresponsible strike tomorrow that will harm all Israeli citizens. I will not capitulate to pressure and threats, and I will not pass the budgets until I ensure that the money reaches the citizens and not criminals."

As reported today (Sunday) morning, the head of the Federation of Local Authorities, Haim Bibas, announced a strike of the local authorities that will take place tomorrow (Monday) between 8:00 and 10:00, in protest of the budget not being transferred to the Arab authorities.

Bibas: "Expressing solidarity with the Arab authorities"

Bibas made these remarks at the education conference of the Local Authority Center in Baqa al-Gharbiyye. According to him, "The Federation of Local Authorities stands fully in solidarity with the Arab local authorities and will strike tomorrow between 8:00 to 10:00 as a sign of solidarity." He further cautioned that "if we reach September 1st in the same situation, we will consider our next steps. We are advocating for budgets for the periphery and Arab sector. When something doesn't smell right, we need to be there."

As a reminder, last month, Smotrich announced his decision to freeze the transfer of a budget worth 200 million shekels to Arab authorities, claiming that the source of this budget was from the previous government under the commitment of former Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked to Mansour Abbas, the leader of the Ra'am party. Following widespread criticism, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated that the money would be transferred after an examination by a committee to ensure that the funds would not reach criminal organizations.