Tax Authority employees were violently attacked by a mob in Bnei Brak on July 16, prompting Director Shay Aharonovich to suspend war damage claims in the city and demand the municipality condemn the violence. After a meeting with Mayor Hanoch Zeibert, operations were announced to resume, though union representatives said safety guarantees were insufficient.
Attack and suspension
According to a letter from Aharonovich to Zeibert, employees were assaulted by a mob numbering in the hundreds on the afternoon of July 16 while carrying out enforcement activities. Videos shared online showed a crowd surrounding officials, with stones and other objects hurled at their vehicle and at police officers. The employees were rescued by police.
Aharonovich wrote that he could only conclude that Tax Authority employees were not welcome in the city, and said he had instructed the Compensation Fund to immediately suspend handling claims for damage caused during operations “Rising Lion” and “Lion’s Roar” until the municipality publicly and unequivocally condemns the attacks through haredi media outlets, including newspapers, radio stations, news hotlines, and other channels.
Meeting and resumption
On Thursday afternoon, Aharonovich met with Zeibert at the mayor’s office to discuss the latest attack. Following the meeting, the Tax Authority announced that operations in the city would resume.
Zeibert, who had initially refrained from publicly condemning the attacks, issued his first statement after the meeting, saying, “There is no place for violence in the city of Torah and Hasidism, whose ways are ways of pleasantness. Public employees, including Tax Authority employees, carry out their work faithfully in Bnei Brak, just as they do in every city in the country.”
The meeting was also attended by Senior Deputy Director for Customer Service David Rotenberg, Senior Deputy Director for Assessment and Auditing Ruby Botbol, and Municipal Director General Rabbi Yisrael Ehrenstein.
Union objection
State Employees Union Chairman Ofir Alkalay said union representatives were not present at the meeting and expressed doubt that the assurances would guarantee workers’ safety. “A publicized meeting with the mayor still does not guarantee the safety of Tax Authority employees,” he said. “Unfortunately, no discussion was held with the employees’ representatives on the matter, and another attack could occur.”
Alkalay objected to Tax Authority workers returning to Bnei Brak until their safety is guaranteed, as reported by Ynet.
Perspectives
Tax Authority and municipality
Tax Authority Director Shay Aharonovich and Bnei Brak Mayor Hanoch Zeibert, after their meeting, agreed that operations should resume. Zeibert condemned the violence and affirmed support for public employees, while Aharonovich had earlier demanded a public condemnation through haredi media outlets.
Employee union
State Employees Union Chairman Ofir Alkalay opposed the return, arguing that safety assurances from the meeting were insufficient and that union representatives had not been consulted. He noted that another attack could occur.