For the second time in two weeks the government has decisively defeated a no confidence motion by opposition factions over alleged scandals in the operations of the State-owned Vered water resources development company. Yesterday’s motion, stemming from charges by the Gahal and Free Center factions of bribery and kick-backs to Israeli officials, was voted down 55-29. Last week’s motion which sought to blame the government for Vered’s financial collapse, was also rejected by a large margin of votes.
Agriculture Minister Haim Gvati who has overall responsibility for Vered, accused the opposition of flouting State Comptroller Yitzhak Nebenzahl’s request not to publicly debate the “brokerage money” which Vered officials allegedly paid to individuals overseas. Gahal charged Tuesday that Vered paid out $6 million in bribes to secure contracts in Africa and elsewhere and alleged that some of this money may have been “kicked back” to the Israeli go-betweens. Gvati said the opposition was harassing the government after losing last week’s vote on a no confidence motion.
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