The Tax Authority has frozen war-damage aid to Bnei Brak residents whose homes were damaged in the Iran war, following an attack on its inspectors in the city. The decision expands the freeze first reported for Tel Aviv earlier today.
The Tax Authority froze war-damage aid to Bnei Brak on Friday afternoon, expanding the freeze first reported for Tel Aviv earlier today. The decision follows an attack on inspectors in the city, which reports described as a "lynching" (as The Zioneer reported at 13:41 Jerusalem). The freeze is the latest in a series of escalating measures by the Authority against municipalities where its inspectors were targeted.
The sequence of events in Bnei Brak unfolded rapidly. The first report at 13:41 Jerusalem stated the Authority had frozen aid over the attack. Within the same hour, The Zioneer reported that the Authority's director had conditioned the restoration of aid on the municipality unequivocally condemning the attack, and subsequently cut off payouts entirely. Earlier in the afternoon, the Authority had also frozen aid to Tel Aviv, prompting criticism from MK Israel Cohen (United Torah Judaism) at 14:15 Jerusalem, who argued the Authority was punishing an entire city for the actions of a few.
The clampdown comes amid broader tensions between the Tax Authority and Haredi communities. As The Zioneer reported on July 8, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned an attack on Tax Authority workers in Bnei Brak, saying "we cannot accept such violence." Separately, on July 13, the Knesset Finance Committee postponed approval of tax benefits for 247 associations amid Haredi opposition, reflecting ongoing friction.
It remains unclear whether the Bnei Brak municipality will meet the Authority's condition to condemn the attack, and whether the freeze will be extended to other cities. The full details of the inspector attack and the Authority's criteria for lifting the freeze have not been released.
5 developments
- DevelopingMK Israel Cohen slams Tax Authority for punishing all of Tel Aviv over Kaplan attack
- StrongSmotrich condemns attack on Tax Authority workers in Bnei Brak
- DevelopingBnei Brak kiosk owner attacks Shabbat activists after end of Sabbath
- DevelopingHundreds surround Tax Authority inspectors in Bnei Brak, eggs thrown at car
Source and signal
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