Moses: "In order to hurt the yeshivas – they hurt the country"

Chairman of Yahadut Hatorah MK Menachem Eliezer Moses protested to the Knesset plenum on the absurdity behind the decision to cancel the yeshiva budgeting for foreign students and yeshivot.

"One of the sections in the Arrangements Law stipulates that no more shall yeshiva students from abroad who come to study in yeshivas and kollelim in Israel be provided with budgets. I do not know who the "genius" is who made the decision, but when the finance minister asked, "Where is the money?" – He will not find it in this section. This budget is small in terms of the state budget, a total of 35 million NIS a year. But the damage caused to the state from cutting the section, exceeds this amount many times. "

Moses argued that Israel invests hundreds of millions of shekels in tourists each year to Israel out of an understanding that this is a tremendous growth engine for the local economy."This is why the idea to cancel the tax exemption for tourists, was canceled in outset, the tourism investment pays for itself doubly. Projects like "Birthright" and the campaign of "superior" to bring young people to Israel the state invests tens of millions every year. Every program itself, costs the state fund far more than budgeting foreign students in yeshivas. However, these plans no one thought to cancel.

"Compared to all these programs, the thousands of haredim who come to study in the country, the state doesn’t finance, not their stay here and not their arrival. Part of the country amounts to minimal support of a few hundred shekels in the institution in which they study a total of 35 million ₪ year. Well now it is going to be cancelled.

"Those foreign students who come to Israel, contribute to Israel's economy and GNP just like any other tourist who comes to Israel and even more. They come here as tourists who bring foreign exchange, consume consumer products, and rent apartments. Some even get married here at last, buy an apartment and stay in the country. Families come to visit them, hire a car, are staying in hotels and according to a report by the Israel Hotel Association, take up the bulk of hotel occupancy in Jerusalem. "

"Moreover, unlike other tourists in Israel, yeshiva students return abroad during holidays, usually taking with them religion products they purchase in Israel such as matzah, four species, Mezuzah, Talit, Tefillin and more. You can not quantify it, but there is no dispute that the income of yeshiva students to the state budget is tremendous.

"To go now and cancel their budgeting and thus stop their arrival to Israel, is to cut off the branch upon which we sit, and without any apparent reason. This is not a savings to the state. They are not subject to the draft. The sole reason is the pursuit of the Torah and mitzvot public. It does not matter if the state will gain or lose, and die with the Philistines "he said.

"This cuts joins another series of painful cuts against the ultra-Orthodox, following all under the guise of "concern" for the Haredi public," he said.

Rabbi Moses also referred to allegations of the Finance to non compliance allegedly of the ultra-Orthodox in the labor market, and accused the Treasury of ignoring real data. "Deputy Finance Minister prefers to ignore data that I brought here last week and he avoids giving real answers. According to CBS data 252,000 jobless are dealing for 62,000 vacancies. What jobs for Haredim is he talking about? Why is avoiding giving real answers?"

At the end of the discussion Knesset members voted to transfer the subject for further discussion of the science committee.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!