Shas Candidate Faces Financial Scrutiny Over War Aid Funds in New Report
A new investigation by Channel 12 raises serious financial questions about a non-profit founded by Shas Knesset candidate Dror Amos, concerning funds meant for war bereaved families.
Ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections, the Shas party has introduced a new face to its electoral list: Major (res.) Dror Amos, who was placed in the sixth spot. The move, seen as an attempt by the party to appeal to a traditional audience, is now overshadowed by difficult questions raised in a new investigative report.
According to an investigation by Channel 12, serious questions have emerged regarding the financial conduct of the non-profit organization founded by Amos, "Chesed Chaim VeEmet," specifically concerning the allocation of funds ostensibly meant to assist families of fallen soldiers in the war.
The investigation reveals that following October 7, the Ministry of Religious Services announced a joint venture with the association amounting to approximately two million shekels. The stated goal of the project was to accompany bereaved families, with an emphasis on communities evacuated from their homes due to the war. However, representatives from communities in the Gaza envelope, including Nir Oz, Kerem Shalom, and the Nova community, claimed in the report that they had never heard of the association and encountered no activity on the ground.
Where was the budget channeled? According to the findings, there is suspicion that over 2.5 million shekels out of about 4.8 million that flowed to the association in 2024 were allocated as stipends for yeshiva students independently studying laws of mourning, rather than as direct aid to victims' families.
In addition, the N12 investigation points to apparent discrepancies in financial reports between Amos's association and another donor organization ("Achim LaOref"), a gap reportedly standing at 1.3 million shekels.
Beyond the financial issue, the report raises questions regarding Amos's appointment as chairman of the Haifa Religious Council. The appointment was allegedly advanced despite warnings from the ministry's legal counsel regarding a possible political affiliation with Shas and a conflict of interest, as well as the fact that he resides in distant Yeruham. Following the legal counsel's demand, Amos stepped down from managing the association, but his brother and neighbor took his place.
