MK Vladimir Beliak of Yesh Atid, a member of the Knesset Finance Committee, admitted in an interview that Avigdor Lieberman’s new tax on soft drinks, which was allegedly meant to improve public health, should not apply to grape juice.

“Grape juice is a special case, since it is used exclusively on Shabbos and yomim tovim,” he said. “Therefore, I think it would be correct to exempt it from the tax.”

Coalition Chairman Idit Silman of Yamina echoed Beliak’s opinion, saying the “kiddush tax” would harm families with young children and people who avoid alcohol for health reasons.