faction הבית שלנו In the Haifa City Council, headed by David Etzioni and Zeev Sonenzon, submitted a critical query to the municipality regarding the exploitation of the security levy, one of the most sensitive municipal payments for city residents. The query comes after a discussion held on July 19, 2026, at the Municipal Enforcement Council, which revealed a difficult picture regarding the functioning of the Oz Unit, the municipal unit that is supposed to provide security and protection in public spaces.
Serious gaps between planning and execution: Only half of the devices are staffed
According to the data presented in the discussion, the Oz unit is far from achieving its goals:
- of 93 approved standards, staffed 45 only – Approximately 48% staffing.
- In the police inspectors' sector: 36 inspectors out of 72 standards – 50% staffing.
- In the mounted unit: 3 inspectors out of 10 standards – 30% staffing only.
According to the faction members, this data indicates a systemic failure in establishing the unit, and that the municipality is not keeping its promises to the public to strengthen personal security.
Gap between collection and service: long response times and partial response
The most worrying statistic, according to the faction, is the unit's long response times, which do not address the immediate needs of residents. In addition, a significant portion of the unit's activity is biased towards police and traffic operations, instead of addressing neighborhood quality of life issues, the original mission of the Oz unit.
Damage to the city's image: public relations instead of performance indicators
The discussion also raised criticism of the municipality's conduct in the area of public image. According to the municipality's spokesperson, the unit's excessive public relations is damaging the city's image. The faction claims that instead of setting transparent performance indicators (KPIs) and examining the unit's efficiency in relation to its cost, the management is busy managing a media narrative, which is leading to damage to the city's reputation.
Haifa in a technological and operational gap
Compared to similar units in Israel, such as the Sal'a unit in Tel Aviv-Yafo, the Haifa Oz unit is poor in technological means, deployment, and manpower, which leads to significant underperformance.
The questions addressed to the municipality
The faction demands detailed answers from the municipality to the following questions:
- What is the amount collected as part of the conservation levy in 2025–2026?
- What percentage of the amount was used in each of the years?
- What will we do with the unused collection balance? – Reminder: The maintenance levy is a designated levy, and the municipality is not permitted to use the surplus for other purposes.
- In light of the partial staffing and the increase in property taxes, is there any intention to reduce or cancel the security levy?
- How does the municipality plan to return the unused balance to residents?
- Does the municipality intend to focus the unit's activities on the issues for which it was established - improving the quality of life in neighborhoods?
“Residents are collapsing under the burden of taxes – answers are needed”
Etzioni and Sonenzon emphasize that Haifa residents pay a high security levy, but receive only partial service. According to them, the municipality must present full transparency regarding the use of funds, and act to return the remaining collection balances to the public.
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They know how to take the money, but they don't know how to provide the service in return. I don't even know how I'm supposed to contact this unit and when. Unlike the police for that matter.
Burned alive here!!!! Well done Ricky for this article. You have to own the awareness about this nonsense that forces us to pay because it is one big delusion… I am interested to know what happens when there is a break-in at a house and the person who should be guarding was not in the area at the time. Is the municipality exposed to a lawsuit because I pay it for the guarding fee? Do the math on how many residents there are in Haifa, multiplied by the amount they charge for the fee, and you will see what crazy amounts it comes to every month.
We already pay taxes, and taxes have a police force.
Do we need more police?
We pay the unit extra money so they give us more reports? What's the logic?
And don't tell me it's for your own safety, that's how all dark regimes start "for your own safety"
This is funding for the illegal protests in Horeb. That's the whole story.
When there is no sense, it is better to remain silent. Every demonstration in Israel is legal. This is democracy. All demonstrations in Horev are given police permission. The demonstrations are supported by donations from sane citizens and certainly not funded by the municipality.
Another way to extract money from the public, unnecessary and very infuriating…
Oz in the light of day.
Sorry, I asked,
What is the cost of security in the city?
That we discuss and discuss every day
About the retention credit!
All the cities in our enlightened country
Obliging residents
In the security deposit.
I don't understand what or why, because we hung up.
They are charging money from the public… as if we lack taxes in our enlightened country. And where does the money go? Half of the disconnections are unmanned and the service to the public is beyond any criticism. Shame