The State Employees' Union has suspended the work of Tax Authority employees in Bnei Brak, following last week's attack on inspectors. The union demands a substantive arrangement before staff return, rejecting an apology from the mayor as insufficient, according to a report by Hershkovitz.
Earlier today, the State Employees' Union suspended Tax Authority operations in Bnei Brak, escalating the crisis that began when inspectors were attacked in the city on Friday, July 17. The union rejected an apology from the mayor as insufficient, demanding a 'genuine arrangement' before staff return to work, according to a report by Hershkovitz.
The Zioneer reported on Friday, July 17, that Tax Authority inspectors were attacked by a mob in Bnei Brak, with reports describing the incident as a 'lynching.' That same day, the Tax Authority froze war-damage aid to the city, and its director conditioned the restoration of aid on the municipality's unequivocal condemnation of the attack. The freeze was later expanded to include property damage claims. On July 8, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the attack, saying 'we cannot accept such violence.' On July 18, analyst Shilo Fried alleged that the attack was organized by a message center of the Vizhnitz-Shikun Hasidic community, which called on residents to identify 'undesirable guests.'
The Zioneer has reported that the episode drew criticism from MK Israel Cohen (United Torah Judaism), who argued the Authority was punishing an entire city for the actions of a few extremists. The union's suspension of operations now adds a labor dimension to the dispute, as staff refuse to work until the city provides a substantive arrangement.
It remains unclear what specific arrangement the union demands, and whether the Bnei Brak municipality or the Tax Authority will respond to the union's conditions.
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