Heated Knesset Clash Over Budget Priorities: Lahav-Hertzanu and Yaakov Asher Trade Blows
A tense exchange unfolded Sunday in the Knesset Interior Committee between MK Yorai Lahav-Hertzanu of Yesh Atid and MK Yaakov Asher of United Torah Judaism, as the two clashed over coalition funding and the condition of hospitals in southern Israel.
The confrontation centered on budget allocations, with Lahav-Hertzanu sharply criticizing the government while pointing to the situation at Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva following recent incidents in Dimona and Arad.
“5 billion are going to corrupt figures and political operatives, and Soroka is being sent to beg for donations,” Lahav-Hertzanu said. He described what he called a severe crisis at the hospital: “Soroka is short more than 1,700 doctors, a third of its operating rooms are not functioning, and 36% of its beds are not in use — this is the state of the only major hospital in the Negev serving more than a million residents.”
He continued, arguing that government priorities are misplaced. “We are told there is no money for a hospital that needs to provide care, but there are 5 billion shekels for coalition funds going to corrupt figures and operatives. Soroka is being forced to collect donations from philanthropists. I am ashamed that this is what the largest hospital in the south looks like.”
Asher rejected the criticism and defended the funding, saying it supports legitimate educational needs. “It’s easiest to call everything coalition funds,” Asher said. “These coalition funds are part of the budget that the State of Israel allocates to certain communities for education. This is exactly something we have fought for over the years — the budgets you are comparing are for education. I was a mayor, and I know how hard I fought for education funding.”
He then accused Lahav-Hertzanu of acting on political instructions. “I’m not going to answer you because I’m sure you were instructed by someone to do this. You received instructions from someone who pushes headlines and doesn’t even reach 6 seats in the polls. We are coming after a disaster, where many of those ‘corrupt people’ you are talking about are in the hospital. You are speaking about an entire ציבור like this. I won’t respond — despite the pain, I will not respond!”
