MK Uri Ariel, who is a member of the Knesset's  Finance Committee, said Wednesday that the committee's decision to enlarge President Shimon Peres' travel budget by NIS 2 million was scandalous.

The additional budget was granted after the committee was convinced that Peres's frequent travels abroad assist the State of Israel.

"I must say that I was not present at the discussion in the Finance Committee,” Ariel told Arutz Sheva, “because at that moment I had to be at the Education Committee where they were discussing the Defense Minister's abuse of the children of Yehudah and Shomron (Judea and Samaria) who are without adequate classrooms because of the building freeze, but this is a true scandal.”

"This man talks in an extremely political fashion, unlike all of our previous presidents, from Oslo on,” Ariel said. “I find it hard to understand why they let this president be involved in diplomatic and political matters that are outside his province. I think people just do not want to fight him.”

MK Ariel said he will try to have Peres' travel budget reduced. “I will not remain silent, and I will say everything that needs to be said against President Peres who is breaking all of the traditions that were in honored in the President's Residence up to now. He should not be given money to continue to talk in favor of the Oslo Accords. Peres is no authority, his position does not allow him to engage in policy making and all he does is to go out and tell the world everything that our enemies want to hear.”