Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri signed a plea agreement today (Thursday) in which he admits to two tax offenses, will be convicted, will resign from the Knesset and will pay a fine of 180,000 NIS.
The one who decided to come to his aid was the radio announcer. Menachem Tucker, S.He announced on his Twitter account a fundraising campaign of 180,000 shekels to finance the fine.
""On Sunday, after he resigns from the Knesset, we will launch a fundraising campaign to finance the fine imposed on Aryeh Deri," tweeted Toker. "Anyone who benefits from his public activities (and especially from his kosher performances) is invited to help.".
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Many netizens reacted with mockery or anger to the initiative.
Journalist Avishai Greenzig, the legal correspondent for 'Globes', was quick to warn Tucker, tweeting in response: "On the one hand: the crowdfunding organized by broadcaster Menachem Tucker for Aryeh Deri's criminal fine. On the other hand: the Penal Code, which states that publishing crowdfunding for a criminal fine is a criminal offense punishable by six months in prison.".
Tomer Naor, head of the legal department of the Movement for Quality Government, responded to Greenzig: "This is a transition, this is a public that does not understand that Deri made enormous sums of money in his career, ruined his entire family, and now portrays himself as poor - and asks those who can barely make ends meet to finance him.".
Mr. Toker, are you aware that what you are doing is a violation of the law punishable by six months in prison?
If not, you should know.
Hi @IL_police , Awake? pic.twitter.com/wGkeh6ylXk— 🏴Schwarcz🇮🇱 (@Schwarcz1) December 23, 2021
Ariel Menashe, The former deputy head of the Haredi section at the Jerusalem Recruitment Bureau responded: "The contempt for the intelligence of Shas voters on behalf of the Haredi continues. And this time - Menachem Talker "I want the small, transparent citizen to finance a fine for a millionaire.".
Another surfer responded: "Apart from the fact that this is a criminal offense, you are also misleading the public. The man is expected to receive a very respectable adaptation grant of hundreds of thousands of shekels from public funds. Why is there no limit to the stupidity, why?".
And another surfer added: "I support Deri. And I think he was wronged in court. But come on. Do you want to take money from people who don't have it to support someone who is full of money? The end doesn't justify the means. That's my opinion.".
And journalist Gur Megiddo of The Marker, who published a shocking investigation into the media's fundraising channels, responded:
On the other hand, it is known that Toker's fundraising broadcasts end with 98% of the money disappearing, so if I were Deri, I wouldn't bet on the money. https://t.co/wm0zNCSdOI
— Gur Megiddo (@GurMegiddo) December 23, 2021
However, Deri later, apparently realizing that the initiative was causing him image damage, preferred to distance himself from it.
The statement he published said: "The initiative to mobilize the masses was Menachem Toker's and I have nothing to do with it. I was surprised to hear this. I thank Toker for the gesture, but it is not necessary.".
He added: "At my request, the state agreed to allow me to pay in installments and do so from my own money. I call on everyone who is willing to donate to charity for needy and underprivileged families.".
