MK (Shas) Moshe Arbel has submitted a bill in Knesset to compel the Defense Ministry and IDF to pay ‘arnona’ property tax on its installations throughout Yehuda and Shomron. To date, they have been exempted from paying property taxes to councils and authorities following their definition in regulations governing emergencies.

According to Arbel, the bill seeks to remedy an injustice between the local authorities in Yehuda and Shomron and their residents and the remainder of the country. In addition, the property tax would provide additional income to the councils as do the councils inside Green Line Israel.

The bill explains “In Yehuda and Shomron, there are various government assets, including military bases and areas used by the Ministry of Defense that do not pay property taxes to local authorities in the region, because they do not belong to the local authorities in the area.”

Arbel adds that consequently, they are not charged municipal property tax and in addition, the tax exemption ordinance does not apply in those areas.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)