Israelis who reside within seven kilometers of the Gaza Strip will receive full
compensation for all work days they miss in accordance with IDF Home Front
Command instructions, the Finance Ministry said on Thursday.
Parents of
children aged 14 and under who reside within 40 kilometers of Gaza will also be
compensated for missing work according to Israel Tax Authority (ITA) criteria,
following the Home Front Command’s order to cancel all studies in the
area.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Treasury officials held an
emergency discussion on Thursday, one day after the IDF launched of Operation
Pillar of Defense.
The officials agreed to use all means at their
disposal to ease the financial burden on residents of the South, and said they
would invite business representatives and Histadrut labor federation officials
to further discussions on the matter.
ITA director Doron Arbeli announced
that all people residing within the 40-kilometer range will be granted a six-day
extension to November 21 to hand in periodical tax returns. This applies to
statements on value-added tax, advanced income tax payments and income tax
deductions. The ITA said it has enlisted reinforcements in the South, in order
to provide a suitable response to all residents who suffer property damage as a
result of rocket fire from Gaza.
The Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry
issued a statement that all southern residents should report to work unless
ordered to do otherwise by the Home Front Command. The ministry opened a
telephone hotline (1800-201-180) with information about work rights and duties
during times of emergency and instructions to employees of factories deemed as
“essential” to national security.
The Israel Export Institute set up an
emergency room in its Tel Aviv office to allow firms affected by the violence to
continue operating.
According to the IEI, the major cities within rocket
range are home to about 405 companies that export above $50,000 worth of
merchandise, and eight that export above $100 million.