Attorney Ofir Alkali, chairman of the State Employees' Union, ordered the shutdown of Israel Tax Authority operations in Bnei Brak on Sunday, following an attack on inspectors by Haredi residents. The move escalates the union's response, after earlier barring workers from entering the city, according to N12.
On Sunday, State Employees' Union chairman Attorney Ofir Alkali ordered the complete shutdown of Israel Tax Authority operations in Bnei Brak, escalating the union's response to last week's attack on inspectors. The move comes hours after the union formally barred workers from entering the city, as reported by The Zioneer at 13:49 Jerusalem.
The sequence of events began on Friday, July 17, at 13:41 Jerusalem, when The Zioneer reported that Tax Authority inspectors were attacked by a mob in Bnei Brak, described as a 'lynching.' Over the course of Friday, the Tax Authority froze war-damage aid to the city, conditioned its restoration on a condemnation from the municipality, and ultimately cut off payouts. The State Employees' Union then suspended Tax Authority operations in Bnei Brak and, on Sunday at 13:49 Jerusalem, barred workers from entering the city—a step that culminated in the current full shutdown.
The broader context includes earlier reports by The Zioneer: On July 8, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the attack, saying 'we cannot accept such violence.' On July 18, analyst Shilo Fried claimed the attack was organized by the message center of the Vizhnitz-Shikun Hasidic community. MK Israel Cohen (United Torah Judaism) criticized the Tax Authority for collective punishment, as reported on July 17.
The full scope and duration of the shutdown remain unclear. The union has not announced a timeline for resuming operations, and the Tax Authority has not yet responded to the union's escalation.
8 developments
- StrongSmotrich condemns attack on Tax Authority workers in Bnei Brak
- DevelopingMK Israel Cohen slams Tax Authority for punishing all of Tel Aviv over Kaplan attack
- DevelopingShilo Fried claims Vizhnitz Hasidic message center organized Bnei Brak Tax Authority attack
- DevelopingBnei Brak kiosk owner attacks Shabbat activists after end of Sabbath
Source and signal
- Internal intake