Knucklehead Award Friday Part Twenty-Four

Our twenty-fourth and last Knucklehead is Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz. They get the award for the following.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz on Thursday blasted business tycoon Arkady Gaydamak for financing a free weekend in Eilat for 800 residents of the rocket-battered western Negev town of Sderot.

"The state of Israel does not allow rich men and philanthropists to gain control from the distress of citizens," said Peretz. "This phenomenon cannot continue. We will prepare an organized and established plan to alleviate these residents so they will not need to knock on the doors of philanthropists."

Peretz ordered the defense establishment and the Sderot municipality on Thursday to evacuate hundreds of children from the city and other towns in the Gaza envelope for a few days' respite in Givat Olga on behalf of the Association for the Welfare of Israeli Soldiers.

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Known for his generous donations - particularly after paying for temporary accommodation for northerners who fled their homes during the war in Lebanon - the Russian-born billionaire announced earlier on Thursday he would charter some 17 buses and rent some 1,600 rooms in the southern resort city of Eilat for the benefit of Sderot residents.

Something is seriously wrong in a country's politics if being charitable gets you blasted by a public official. Peretz's behavior probably has something to do with his being the former head of Israel's Socialist party. He apparently despises the money Gaydamak has even if its being used to help people.(Just give it to the government instead for it always know how to waste spend money in the best way for the people they rule over) For that, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz is our twenty-fourth and last Knucklehead of the day. I hope you enjoyed this little festival.

Hat tip- David Bernstein at the Volokh Conspiracy