The heads of the authorities held an emergency discussion today (Sunday) following the property tax fund and announced a general shutdown of all municipal services starting tomorrow, unless it is removed from the Arrangements Law. So far, the strike has been addressed in the municipalities of Givatayim, Ramat Gan, Or Yehuda, Tel Aviv, Nes Ziona, Herzliya, Hod Hasharon, Kiryat Ono, Eilat, Modi'in Maccabim Reot, Rishon Lezion, Beer Sheva, Ashdod, Petah Tikva and Haifa.
The storm of the property tax fund: what does the proposal mean and what is the uproar?
The mayor of RG, Carmel Shama HaCohen, wrote on Twitter: "Much thanks to the wall-to-wall support I received from you to fight property tax robbery, even at the cost of shutting down the city, we were able to cancel the consent given by the local government to the approval of the robbery law under severe threat from the government, as testified by R. The local government: 'Put a gun on the table for us.' At this moment, the local government unanimously decided on a complete shutdown of the local government, including the education systems, starting tomorrow morning."
In an urgent Zoom meeting held by the Center for Local Government with all the mayors, it was unanimously decided to intensify the fight against the property tax fund law.
Starting tomorrow, Monday, there will be a full strike in the local government, including the education system!
We have no choice but to use all the tools at our disposal to cancel the evil of the decree and we will fight with all the power of the law…
— Ron Huldai (@Ron_Huldai) May 14, 2023
The mayor of Nes Ziona, Shmuel Boxer, added: "There is an attempt here to damage education, welfare, culture and our ability to provide municipal services to our residents and bring about the collapse of local authorities. It is not our job to take care of budgetary sources for solving national crises. This law was born in sin and will not contribute in any way for the solution to the housing crisis. Unfortunately, after all the objections were met with an impermeable wall, we have no choice but to shut down the municipal services and fight for the rights of our residents. Your support in the just struggle is critical."
Raz Kinstlich, mayor of Rishon Lezion, said: "I am also withdrawing from the 15th Forum today, if they do not stand by us there is nothing we can do there. The numbers that are presented to you are incorrect, it cannot be that all the mayors do not understand."
Liat Shochat, Mayor of Or Yehuda, said: "The property tax fund is first class insolence and is a serious violation of the agreement that the state signed with us – and we firmly refuse it. Over the past few weeks, the delusional idea of establishing a property tax fund with all its purpose has been brought up in full force by the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich It is to take money from financially strong authorities, such as Or Yehuda, and transfer it to different authorities. I will not give a hand to it and I will not agree to it in any way."
We will fight for the rights of our residents.
The local government announces a general strike starting tomorrow, Monday 15.5.23, following the Treasury's intention to establish the property tax fund which will severely harm the citizens of Israel.
There is an attempt here to harm our education, welfare, culture and ability to provide municipal services to our residents and bring about the collapse of the authorities…
— Haim Bibas (@BibasHaim) May 14, 2023
The mayor of Herzliya, Moshe Fedalon, reinforced their words and said in Glatz: "I have a religious high school from Samaria and I am going to close it. Let Smotrich finance this high school. 130 children will not study with me."
Avi Grover, the mayor of Ramat Hasharon, attacked: "I oppose the property tax fund that the government intends to establish as part of the Settlements Law. Instead of investing billions in infrastructure in the periphery, the state plays it as Robin Hood, inciting authorities against authorities. This is a fund that will harm all authorities in the center and the periphery and we must oppose it in every way The attacker. Unfortunately this time, with all my appreciation for the local government center, they reached a compromise that endangers the future of local government. A compromise that turns our property tax money into the state's small, political coffers."
The mayor of Hod Hasharon, Amir Kochavi, was outraged at Glatz: "The state comes and says – 'Have you succeeded in creating a strong authority? Let's punish you.' The authorities that interfere with the government on a daily basis."
"It's a law that hurts certain authorities, one can't help but wonder why in particular," said Gani Gonen, head of the South Sharon Regional Council, about the property tax law and the distribution of budgets to local authorities.
The mayor of Ashdod, Dr. Yehiel Lesri, said that "if the law is not stopped, there will be a serious harm to the service for every resident and we will not be able to promote urban development at all and we will not agree to this under any circumstances. This is not a decision I made lightly, I am aware of the implications and the prices you pay, but against this robbery, we cannot remain silent. This government and any government that decides to put its hands into the coffers of Ashdod Municipality and harm the service to the residents of the city, will encounter strong opposition. I call on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance to immediately stop the unfair and unfair legislation. The property tax of Ashdod is only for Ashdodites."
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