Meretz head Zehava Gal-On criticized Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev on Friday, accusing her of 'making culture and the arts subordinate to her politics.' In a meeting to discuss budgeting for various cultural programming with top theater directors and artists, Regev said she had full control over funding, stating, 'We got 30 mandates, and you got only 20,' according to Channel 10. Regev declared, 'We know the left claims the culture for themselves but we need to get confused between who the people are and who the people actually chose.' 'The rhetoric of Miri Regev only serves to prove just how dangerous it was to appoint her as cultural minister,' Gal-On said. 'She is seeking to silence artists, to limit art and to dictate policy to political subordinates. She does not have any understanding of democracy or freedom of expression.' 'The responsibility is on the prime minister who has not said a word and allows MK Regev to continue on this journey to reform a free culture to Likud culture,' she added. Regev also faced criticism this week for threatening to halt state funding to a Jewish-Arab theater for children in Jaffa – run by an actor who refused to perform in a West Bank settlement. Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog took to twitter to express his displeasure with Regev's actions. 'Seeking a minister of culture,' he wrote on his account. 'Until we find one for the job, Miri Regev, the official censor, will fill the position.'
