Shaked: No Netanyahu Conflict of Interest in 3-Home Owner Tax

YERUSHALAYIM

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu need not worry about a conflict of interest when the bill for taxation on owners of three homes comes to a vote, according to Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked, Globes reported on Monday.

In an interview with Israeli media on Sunday, Netanyahu said he could not take sides on the issue since “I have a conflict of interest, because I own a third housing unit.”

Shaked, however, said it would not be a problem. “In such a broad and general matter as taxation, ministers and MKs are not in a conflict of interest. I will ask the Attorney General to make this clear. Elected public representatives must not be excluded.”

A formal opinion to that effect was reportedly forthcoming from the Ministry of Justice.

According to figures published on Monday by the Ministry of Finance, 54,000 families in Israel own three or more housing units: 38,232 families own three housing units, and 9,863 own four.

The average age of an individual owning three or more housing units is 56, and the average monthly income of a household with three or more housing units is NIS 46,000, triple the average household income in Israel.

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