Watch: The Gentile paid and bought the state’s leaven – Kikar Hashabbat 18.4.19 + 13.4.17 [How can we take this seriously??]

Watch: The Gentile paid and bought the state’s leaven – Kikar Hashabbat 18.4.19 + 13.4.17 [How can we take this seriously??]
 

The chief rabbis received an advance and sold the state’s leaven.
During the sales ceremony, the chief rabbis received an advance payment of 20,000 NIS from Jaber, and after Passover they will assess the value of the country’s chametz, and then Jaber will be able to complete the deal (in the country).
Shabbat Square | 13th of Nisan 5779 13:27 18.04.19

(Photo: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO)

As every year, today (Thursday) the Chief Rabbis of Israel sold the leaven of the State of Israel, including the state’s emergency warehouses, the Israel Police, the Prison Service, hospitals, government ministries, and more, to the foreigner Hussein Jaber – a resident of Abu Ghosh, who will own the leaven.
The ceremony, held this year in the entrance hall of Beit Heichal Shlomo, which previously served as the offices of the Chief Rabbis of Israel, was held by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the Rabbi Maran Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, and the Rabbi Maran Rabbi David Lau, together with Deputy Minister of Finance Yitzhak Cohen, who delivered the letter of authorization from the Minister of Finance authorizing the Chief Rabbis of Israel to sell the chametz of the State of Israel in accordance with the State Property Law to Hussein Jaber.
During the sales ceremony, the Chief Rabbis received an advance payment of 20,000 NIS from Jaber. According to the sales agreement signed by the parties, after Passover, three appraisers will assess the value of the country’s chametz, and then the buyer, Jaber, will be able to complete the deal.
If he is unable to complete the transaction, the chametz will be returned to the sellers. The sales agreement has halachic and legal validity and allows Israeli citizens to properly observe the commandments of Passover without having to worry about the chametz remaining in their possession.
The first part of the ceremony opened with the signing and delivery of a letter of authorization from the Minister of Finance, signed by Minister of Finance Moshe Kahlon, which was delivered by his deputy, Itzik Cohen, to the Chief Rabbis, granting them responsibility for the state’s chametz and authorizing the Chief Rabbis to sell the State of Israel’s chametz.
The text of the authorization letter that the Deputy Minister of Finance gave to the rabbis: “By virtue of my authority… I authorize the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef and Rabbi David Lau, both together or each separately, to be authorized for any action related to the sale of chametz to a foreigner, as is customary and customary in Israel.”
Afterwards, as mentioned, the chief rabbis, on behalf of the state, sold the chametz to Hussein Jaber.

(Photo: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO)

https://www.jdn.co.il/breakingnews/824891/

The Gentile from selling chametz: “I was offered by Arab countries to sell them Israel’s chametz”
JDN System 13.04.2017 11:43
Hussein Ismail Jaber Selling Hametz 7 comments

If Hussein Ismail Jaber, the gentile who buys the State of Israel’s leaven, had 500 billion NIS, all the leaven would remain in his possession. Now he tells why he agreed to be the gentile buyer, and reveals an offer he received from Arab countries, with the aim of economically eliminating the Jewish state.
“They called me from Arab countries and asked if I was willing to sell them all of Israel’s chametz, but of course I didn’t do it,” Hussein Ismail Jaber, a resident of Abu Ghosh, becomes one of the most important people in Israel once a year. After meeting with the Chief Rabbis of Israel and the Minister of Finance and buying the chametz from them, on the seventh night of Passover, everything depends on his free will.
If Jaber wants, the Jews will get their chametz back. If he doesn’t, and even if he manages to obtain the required amount, a total of 500 billion NIS, all the chametz of the State of Israel will remain in his possession. Jaber insists: “This is a contract for all intents and purposes,” he clarifies, “not as if. I really buy all the chametz in the country, it’s all completely real.”

In an interview with the Maariv newspaper, he explains why he agrees to be a gentile for Passover. “Listen, if it’s possible to help the country and society here, then why not. It’s also good for coexistence. It’s important in terms of cooperation to do things like this. Whatever can help, then happily.” However, as a member of the Muslim faith, he says, things don’t always go smoothly. There are always those who will view things with a critical eye. “I sometimes get all kinds of comments from people who say, ‘Why are you doing this,’ and ‘Don’t help,’ but usually everything is fine,” he says.
As mentioned, due to his unusual role, Jaber often received offers from Arab countries. These were not official offers from governments, but rather offers from private individuals who perhaps saw Jaber’s role as a one-year opportunity to harm the State of Israel, even if the price would be very high. “Rich people from Dubai or Saudi Arabia told me: ‘We’ll buy everything from you,'” he says.
Jaber, for his part, makes it clear that he was not tempted to do so, and does not intend to start doing so now. After 21 years in the position, he understands that the weight on his shoulders is not insignificant, and that many eyes are on him during this week. “But even if I can’t pay everything, everything is mine on Passover if I pay the down payment,” he explains. “Look, this week I gave a check for $20,000 in advance, and if I give it, then the deal on Passover is valid. On Monday I have to decide whether I want to continue the lease or not. If not, then the contract is canceled and everything is returned.”
Jaber himself is a strict Muslim. Perhaps because of the mistake made by his predecessor, it is important for him to clarify this. Perhaps also because of the fact that this is “the biggest deal in the State of Israel,” as he said in an interview he gave a few years ago to the Haredi radio “Kol Barama.” Although it is a contract in which it is clear to the parties that it is temporary and has no intention of being implemented, he said in that interview, he takes the position with all seriousness, as if he is still debating whether to throw away the other billions and become the legal owners of a lot of loaves of bread. “Look, this is mine,” Jaber said of the factories that are passing into his hands for one week. “I am conducting a tour, inspections, to see what I bought.”
Still, when asked about his ability to freely dispose of the products he purchased with good money, he makes it clear that he understands that this is not really the case. “It’s my responsibility, but it’s not really something I can give,” he reassures. And if that wasn’t enough, perhaps the following fact will help: This long-standing occupation has made Jaber an expert in Jewish law related to leaven and Passover. After all, status requires it. “I control the material,” Jaber boasts.