Gaydamak. 'I speak straightforward'
צילום: ראובן שוורץ
Gaydamak clashes with MKs at Knesset
Labor MK Yacimovich says billionaire's decision to host 6,000 people in Nitzanim tent during last summer's war was politically driven. Gaydamak in response: Some government and Knesset members are only interested in their salaries
Labor MK Shelly Yacimovich censured Russian-Israeli billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak on Wednesday during a meeting of the State Control Committee to discuss the handling of the home front during last summer's war with Hizbullah.
Yacimovich slammed Gaydamak over his decision to host thousands of Israelis in a tent he set up in Nitzanim, saying political motives were driving his charitable work.
"It is unacceptable that people like Gaydamak collect people in buses. The state needs to do so and not people interested in political gains, as in this case," said Yacimovich.
Gaydamak, who was questioned by the committee about his charitable donations during the war, said in response, "There are members of the government and the Knesset who are only interested in their salaries and do not understand the difference between charity and donations.
"As far as I am concerned, the opinions of the children in Sderot are more important," he added.
Committee chairman MK Zevulun Orlev told Gaydamak his response to Yacimovich was inappropriate.
"I am not a politician, I speak straightforward," Gaydamak told Orlev.
"Speak politely because it is obvious you were harmful, retract your remarks. You are in the Knesset and I ask you to do so as committee chairman," Orlev told Gaydamak.
Gaydamak then said, "Sorry, not everybody works for money."
Committee member and Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog said the government delivered food supplies to thousands of residents of the north and evacuated many others but the media chose to focus on the 6,000 people hosted by Gaydamak.
