Gaza Fence Area Farmers to Get Compensation for Lost Work, Liberman Says

YERUSHALAYIM
Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has ordered his staff to examine the possibility of compensation to Gaza fence-area farmers for the work they are losing out on as a result of the serious security situation on the Gaza border. A panel, consisting of IDF and Defense Ministry officials, along with state tax representatives and Agriculture Ministry representatives, will discuss the matter in the coming days, Liberman said.

Several weeks ago, IDF forces demolished a terror tunnel that ran under Israeli territory, in which a dozen Islamic Jihad and Hamas terrorists were killed. Israel believes that Islamic Jihad is set on avenging the deaths of those terrorists, and security officials said that when Israel responds to that vengeance attack – which is likely to be high profile – with a major military action in Gaza; Islamic Jihad, and probably Hamas, will probably begin firing missiles at Israeli civilian communities. That scenario could develop at any moment, and hence the deployment of the Iron Dome units, which will be used to deflect the Gaza missiles fired at Israeli population centers.

As a result, the IDF has deployed in an increased security footing in the Gaza border fence area, and residents are paying the price. A report on Channel One showed residents mostly taking shelter during the daylight hours, with the IDF allowing farmers access to their fields only at night, when it would be harder for Gaza terrorists to follow their movements from across the border. This, according to the report, has wreaked havoc on the incomes of farmers, and the Ministry is considering compensating them for their losses.

Liberman visited the area earlier this week and spoke directly to farmers. The Defense Minister said that as a result of his visit he would see to it that a “fast track” is developed for farmers “to provide them with compensation for the losses they have incurred due to their complying with the security establishment’s instructions, which requires them to stop their work and as a result lose out on income.”

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