The Degel HaTorah Party attempted to organize a nine-million NIS election conference, most of which was due to come from the Periphery Development Ministry.
Mordechai Gilat of Kan News reported that the conference was presented as a closing ceremony for the Daf Yomi cycle (Siyum Shas). After the Ministry canceled the funding, the party turned to the Jerusalem Municipality, which transferred NIS 800,000 to the event.
The Jerusalem Municipality said, "We budget hundreds of cultural events a year to serve all sectors. The Siyum Shas takes place once every seven-and-a-half years, one third of the places are allocated to city residents. This is an event of a cultural-educational and non-political nature."