Jewish Home, Shas, UTJ against casino plan

As the government is expected to discuss a plan to allow up to four licenses to open casinos in the southern resort city of Eilat, Likud members face off against opposition from Jewish Home, Shas and United Torah Judaism lawmakers.

All three parties count religious Jews as their voter base.

Jewish Home head Education Minister Naftali Bennett says the plan is bust both ethically and practically.

“As the minister responsible for education, who fights hard every day against harm to our children, for youths and women, I will act against establishing a casino. We will teach our kids values and not gambling,” he says.

“Israel is not Vegas and it will not be,” he says.

Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who backs the casino plan (and apparently hyperbole as well), shoots back that “the Jewish Home party will bring about the total destruction of the city of Eilat.”