MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz sent a sharply-worded letter to Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday accusing certain government
figures of failing to meet a promise made to Degel HaTorah to
work toward reversing a harsh 15 percent budget cut for
chareidi kindergartens.
"I cannot stand the government's lies any more," writes Rabbi
Ravitz. "To this day the government has not carried out its
promise to restore the 15 percent (cut) to the kindergartens.
Because of my obligations to the public at large I cannot
bear the veil of deceit the government casts. I represent a
public that has believed my promises so far and expects them
to be fulfilled by the government I joined. I am constantly
receiving letters, phone calls [and faxes] regarding the
failure to carry out pledges toward the affected sector. I
cannot be a wall to defend bungling or unwillingness or an
inability to take action in a matter that is not under
debate. I can no longer tolerate this lie or half-truth that
I hear and pass on to the public in order to allay its
concerns. To my eyes this behavior is a touchstone and a
symptom of coalition agreements to come, which are replete
with promises."
Rabbi Ravitz noted that he is aware that Sharon himself is
acting to rectify the injustice but the Education Ministry
has not executed the funding transfer.
According to gedolei Yisroel one month ago UTJ joined
the coalition for a three-month trial period at the end of
which its membership in the coalition would be reassessed.
Some media reports said that Rabbi Ravitz had unilaterally
resigned from the coalition, but they apparently misread his
letter.
