Lapid says government plan to redirect local taxes is ‘stealing our money’

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid chastises as “theft” a government plan to transfer municipal tax income from wealthier cities to poorer ones, especially those far from Israel’s center.

At the opening of his Yesh Atid faction meeting, Lapid claims that “this government has decided to steal our property tax money… The government is coming to municipalities whose sole misdeed is being properly managed and having residents who work and pay taxes, and confiscating their money.”

Lapid argues that the plan is aimed at redirecting funds away from supporting kindergartens, public transportation and garbage disposal, to benefiting the “friends” of Shas party leader Aryeh Deri and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Lapid claims the new government has been “destroying the economy” by raising stipends to Haredi men “to make sure they don’t join the workforce” and by “funneling billions to Smotrich’s friends in [West Bank settler] outposts.”

Lapid says his party supports the strike announced by some municipalities over the plan.

Lapid also says he wants Yesh Atid MK Karine Elharrar to be the opposition’s representative on the Judicial Selection Committee, which is reportedly set to be formed soon, but that the opposition still needs to meet on the matter. Coalition sources have indicated that they are weighing not appointing any opposition lawmaker to the committee at all, despite this being customary — though not mandatory.