754 Claims for Damage Filed in Terror-Rocket Attacks

The Knesset Finance Committee has met to begin assessing damage claims from Israelis who sustained losses in the recent round of rocket fire by Gaza Arab terrorists against targets in southern Israel. According to a report by the Tax Authority, which handles the claims and payments, 754 claims for property damage have been received. Of those, 522 were for damage to buildings, and 207 for damage to vehicles.

The city that sustained the most damage was Ashdod, with 261 claims, 166 for homes and 90 for vehicles. Ashkelon residents filed 182 claims for damage to buildings, and 50 for damage to vehicles. Kiryat Gat residents filed 28 claims for building damage, and 25 claims for vehicle damage. Nearly all the claims have been examined by Tax Authority officials, and payments will be forwarded when authorized by the Finance Committee.

With that, no compensation will be forthcoming for businesses that were forced to close for the two days that rockets were falling – and Yossi Alkoby, head of the Industrial Workers and Professionals Organization, said that 33,000 workers lost out on wages for the days that they were told to stay home by the IDF.

Speaking to Yisrael Hayom, Alkoby said that industry and businesses sustained losses of NIS 110.75 million because workers were not on the job. “I have doubts as to whether or not MKs have experience in business or accounting,” he said. “We need a long-term solution to resolve this problem, because it keeps repeating itself.”