KKL Chairman Defies Likud Claims Over Political Facebook Posts

Eyal Ostrinsky, chairman of the Jewish National Fund (KKL), sharply criticized the Likud party on Thursday after they filed a complaint with the State Comptroller. Likud alleged that Ostrinsky's Facebook posts supporting Gadi Eizenkot and the "Yesh" party constituted an illegal campaign contribution by KKL. Ostrinsky dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically motivated, calling them "one of the most absurd claims" he has encountered. He emphasized that he will continue expressing his views publicly, asserting Israel needs deep change and endorsing Eizenkot as the right leader for that transformation.

Ostrinsky clarified that his social media activity is conducted on his personal platforms and is not funded by KKL resources. Unlike previous chairmen, he said he does not use public funds to finance his online presence or operate official KKL pages for political messaging. He stressed that no political opinions are expressed on any official KKL channels, including their website and social media.

While acknowledging his political identity, Ostrinsky noted he was elected KKL chairman by the liberal bloc at the World Zionist Congress, a political body representing Jewish communities worldwide. He highlighted that his election involved agreements among various factions, including three representing Likud. Ostrinsky's response signals ongoing tensions between KKL leadership and the ruling party as Israel approaches elections.