|
|
NEWS
Government Approves NIS 103 Million for Shmittah
Preparation
By Eliezer Rauchberger
The government has allocated NIS 103 million ($25 million) to
make preparations for the Shmittah year, including assistance
for farmers and shomrei Shevi'is, MK Yitzchak Cohen, a
minister without portfolio responsible for the religious
councils, reported at a meeting of the Knesset Finance
Subcommittee for the Shmittah Year.
At the subcommittee meeting Cohen said the sum is three times
the amount allocated seven years ago, when the government
earmarked a mere NIS 34 million ($8 million).
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni praised the government for the decision
to provide special funding, noting that the day after the
decision was reached he refrained from voting in favor of a
no-confidence motion against the government because he sees
this decision as an ideological one. Rabbi Gafni proposed
involving established Shmittah organizations in the
process of setting the funding criteria, saying Jews in Eretz
Yisroel and abroad donate money to assist shomrei
Shmittah farmers in addition to the government budget
funds.
He also praised the Agricultural Ministry for its long-term
involvement in the issue.
Subcommittee Chairman MK David Tal (Kadima) announced that
Shmittah organizations would be summoned to the next
meeting to be held a few weeks from now, giving them an
opportunity to present their objections to the distribution
of government funding.
|
