'Tov': "Despite the incitement of Yated Ne'eman we will not give into corruption"

Degel Hatorah conduct in Beit Shemesh bordering on corruption, and because I am not ready to be a partner in this corruption, they are taking incitement which reminds us of difficult times of the people of Israel," the Tov chairman in Beit Shemesh, Rabbi Eli Friedman blames.

This morning (Tuesday), a report published by Yated Ne'eman, the deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, Shmuel Greenberg attacked Eli Friedman and accused him of avoiding the allocation of land for Yeshiva Torat Zeev in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

"There is no doubt that something is happening in Israel," he shouted above the top pages of the newspaper, and said that the Tov movement objected to the allocation of land to the yeshiva in Ramat Beit Shemesh

In response, says Eli Friedman to B'Chadrei Charedim:

"I have never seen before, such hypocritical distortion of reality," he said to the B'Chadrei Charedim. "This is unbelievable."

"Many yeshivas are standing in line in Beit Shemesh and seek allocation of land. Yeshivas need land today and will need land in the future and here outrageously transferred seven acres which supports a certain yeshiva by a certain wealth man with very specific connections in the right places.

"Who takes on the responsibility to allocate seven acres for one yeshiva which is not particularly large? The norm in town is an acre and a half for a single institution or even for larger institutions.

This is about suspected corruption. There is only one other yeshiva which received excessive land allocation and it is also related to members of Degel HaTorah, There is also a Talmud Torah which received generous and fast allocation. Just by chance this institution is headed by the same Mr. Greenberg.

"I told the City Council that we cannot give such a large land to one yeshiva. This area is allocated to four or five yeshivas. There were yeshivas that applied for the allocation of land and they were told not to submit applications because they will not be approved.

"This case demonstrates that there are places where there is not a proper representation for the haredi public. They stole public property intended for basically five yeshivas and took everything for one yeshiva which has elbows and connections, they actually voted against five other yeshivas that will not be allocated land in the future.

"Conduct of Yated Ne'eman which distortedly attacked and without minimum of response proves that nothing has changed in that paper. They continue to act like a newspaper of the Communist Party of the fifties. This approach of incitement and shed the blood of others with wild incitement – is reminiscent of darker times in the history of the people of Israel."

In response says Deputy Mayor Shmuel Greenberg: "Friedman did not explain this at the plenum. We did not expect an Orthodox representative to be this way. I have no personal rivalry with Friedman but this is crossing borders."

As for the claims he says: "This is a yehsiva gedola which has a different law than other yeshivas because it provides an anchor and a leading religious character of the city. They have a kollel, community, and there is lateral projection." He also adds that he claimed: "Less than 7 acres would not be enough for the yeshiva and there is more land in this area and we are holding it strongly."

Friedman however rejects his words, "Greenberg continues to lie like that. I explained my position at City Council and it is listed in the protocol. His explanation is absurd: Since when does a yeshiva turn into an attraction for the audience? Has anyone heard of this yeshiva more than any other good yeshiva? Thank G-d I have a list of twenty yeshivas with features and community life, which did not receive even one acre. The fact is that the allocation is so ridiculous that it was conditional that the yeshiva will contribute part of the wealth of this land, for other topics.

"Greenberg himself opposed the allocation of other institutions for their reasons which might be better not to enter. I'm not willing to share anything that smells of corruption and for all I care, Yated Ne'eman and Greenberg may continue to incite but I will not surrender to corruption. It is sad that people lie and the wild incitement are the guiding principle which represents a party like Degel HaTorah. "

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!