Haredi paper slams Sa'ar for nixing some funding for schools

Recent tension between the Shas Party and Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar have resulted in vociferous attacks against the Likud minister in the ultra-Orthodox media, where he is accused of promoting an anti-Haredi policy.

"Under the cover of being the education minister he is inciting and reaping popularity," wrote Hashavua, the most popular Haredi weekly.

Under the headline of "Lapid in Sa'ar's skin," the authors drew a link between the late Yosef Lapid, who was seen as enemy number one of the ultra-Orthodox, and Sa'ar.

Sa'ar said in response that he had no ulterior motives and that his stance was official policy.

"I am sorry about these unbridled and baseless attacks. My policy is known: bolster public education while meeting the needs of various communities including the ultra-Orthodox."

Friction between Sa'ar and Shas peaked over the weekend following two incidents sources in the ultra-Orthodox party say caused them great harm.

First, Haredim were incensed over an apparent reversal by Sa'ar on how to interpret the Nahari Law. The Nahari law passed under the Olmert administration requires local authorities to support recognized but non-state schools to the same degree that they support public schools. Most of the schools falling under this category are Haredi schools.

Three weeks ago, the Shas controlled Interior Ministry issued instructions to local authorities on including expenses such as transportation and rent for leasing buildings as part of the education budget.

Sa'ar, who as early as July 2009 declared that the Nahari Law should be narrowly interpreted, said that that "transport and rental expenses of schools that are recognized but not public are not included in the costs that local authorities must budget for."

A decision by the Education Minister not to close down the school of languages and cultures in Beit Shemesh, contrary to a decision of Shas Mayor Moshe Abutbul, also stoked ill-will. The mayor's decision resulted in yet another outbreak of tensions between secular and religious in the city, since the school is situated in a Haredi neighborhood and Abutbul sought to transfer the structure to the Haredi education system.

The two incidents received a great deal of coverage in the Haredi media and Sa'ar was accused of "targeting Haredi children for political and electoral reasons."

In the article which parallels Sa'ar and Lapid, the minister is accused of publicly attacking Haredim but privately seeking their support.