Attorney general seeks to end unethical money transfers
Weinstein spearheading initiative to abolish coalition funds system, which allocates funds to coalition for spending on its favored institutions.
The existing method of transferring coalition funds has been in place for years. These are funds originating in a state budget surplus and directed towards purposes chosen by a party that is a member of the coalition. (In certain cases, opposition members also receive such allocations.)
In the recent scandal centering on Deputy Foreign Minister MK Faina Kirschenbaum, suspicions arose that these funds were used by political officials to transfer financial subsidies that essentially functioned as part of a system of bribery.
Weinstein is spearheading the new initiative, perceiving that the scandal is a symptom of the phenomenon – and that if the overall system remains unchanged, the attorney general who replaces him will face a similar scandal even before the following elections.
The attorney general is thus interested in implementing the teams' recommendations soon, before the coalition is formed and the Knesset is back in session. Weinsten advised the two teams to present their recommendations by March 17, and preferably before then if possible.
Once Weinstein receives the recommendations, he will attempt to "plug the holes" by providing clear instructions from his office, prior to negotiations to form the government. The goal will be to both outline what is allowed, and to lay the groundwork for a legislative change to entrench the recommendations.
The attorney general's initiative is unrelated to Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid's efforts, who revealed on Monday his conditions for joining the government, which included the elimination of coalition funds.
