in Israel, the opposition is up in arms against a tax bill

In Israel, where housing is among the most expensive in the world, taxation nevertheless encourages town halls to build offices and businesses that bring them more in local taxes. This surcharge makes it possible to support the construction of housing for large families in poor towns: this is the purpose of the bill adopted by the Parliament’s Finance Committee, which will arrive in plenary session in the Knesset.

>> “We will not accept to become fascists and racists”: in Israel, the demonstrations multiply against the government of Binyamin Netanyahu

In response, municipal public services, such as those of civil status or garbage collection, for example, went on strike in several cities in Israel, particularly in the Tel Aviv area and in the Galilee near Lake of Tiberias. Some mayors, right or left, involved have decided to protest, because they believe that this will slow down the economic development of poor cities.

“We will all pay!”

These elected officials also accuse the government of clientelism, because the cities concerned are those where ultra-Orthodox Jews live, many of whom choose not to work to study Torah. And that angers Carmel Chama, mayor of Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, and a member of the ruling Likud party: “You’re destroying the cities! You’re destroying all that fragile fabric!”

“We are facing a jihad! Not Islamic jihad, but a jihad that rains down on us a rain of budget cuts on us. We don’t have an iron dome, we can only count on ourselves! C is a historic crime.”

Carmel Chama, Mayor of Ramat Gan

at franceinfo

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right figure, downplays the protest and takes his constituents to witness: “About ten mayors have declared war on falling housing prices. As long as they have peace on the little piece of land, you will pay the price. We will pay, we will all pay!” Opponents of this new tax believe that it will amount to increasing taxes on the middle classes.