(haipo) - The Finance Committee in the Knesset approved at a meeting last night (Monday 25/11/24), Amendment No. 6 to the property tax and compensation fund regulations, which includes an extension and update of the compensation outline for localities affected by the Iron Swords War in the months of September-October 2024. However, the issue of the inclusion of Kiryat Shmuel and Kiryat Haim in the cycle track, which is similar to that of the other Kiryats, was at the center of the discussion.
Gaps in the provision of compensation
The residents of Kiryat Shmuel and Kiryat Haim demand that their conditions be compared to those of the other Kiryats, claiming that they suffer from the same challenges, whether it is damage to economic activity or the functioning of the education system. The chairman of the committee, MK Moshe Gafni, emphasized in the discussion: "Anyone who lives in Kiryat Shmuel or Kiryat Haim knows that there is no significant difference between them and the other Kiryats. This is a mistake that exposes the entire region to an unfair division."
Although the directives of the Home Front Command referred to the Kiryat areas in a similar way, there was a difference in the provision of compensation on the ground. MK Gafni personally appealed to the Home Front Command and the Minister of Defense, who insisted that there is no justification for this distinction.
Steps to continue
Yorai Matzaloy, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Finance, announced at the hearing that efforts are being made to formulate an equitable solution for the residents of Kiryat Shmuel and Kiryat Haim, and noted that starting in November, there will no longer be a distinction between these settlements and the rest of the Kiryats. However, regarding the months of September-October, it was clarified Because additional work is needed to establish retroactive compensation.
Assistance for new businesses and support for unique populations
As part of the new regulations, mechanisms were established to support new businesses opened in the past year, and the salary track was also expanded for parents who were forced to stay at home due to activity interruptions in the education system.
"The division of Haifa is delusional"
MK Vladimir Blayak ('Yesh Atid') said during the meeting: "I think the event of the division of Haifa is a bit delusional, it's the same city. It's clear to me that Kiryat Shmuel and Kiryat Haim must be inside. After what happened yesterday (a direct fall on a residential building) the discussion is cut off. I guess that yesterday fewer people went out to restaurants, places of entertainment, Book less trips... It's impossible to ignore it. It's clear that there is a decline in business all over the country, it's impossible to continue without a nationwide plan."
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav said: "We achieved more than what was initially offered to Haifa, but unfortunately less than what the entire city of Haifa deserves. Our demand is to attach the compensation outline for Haifa and the neighborhoods near Kiryat to the outline given in Acre, Nahariya and the Gulf cities. I trust the finance committee, because the outline will indeed be expanded in early December. I will continue to fight In order to reach maximum compensation for the Haifa businesses also for the months of November and December, despite the stacked difficulties on the subject".
The cities included in the rotation route: Kiryat Ata, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Motzkin.
Among the cities included in the track of eligible expenses: Haifa / Kiryat Haim and Shmuel.
Kiryat Shmuel, you chose Smutritz the rag...
Eat what you cooked.
There has been no normal Minister of Finance for almost two years.