Fearful over talks of imposing value added tax on fruits and vegetables, shuk merchants from different cities will be moving to the Knesset to protest and drive a point home, that such a tax cannot be tolerated too many shoppers who are already having difficulties feeding their families today.

Likud MK Miri Regev seems to be the impetus behind the effort to prevent levying the 16.5% tax, involving Rami Levi, who heads the Sivuk Shikma nationwide supermarket chain together with representatives of fruit growers and vendors.

In a letter sent last week to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Shteinitz last week, Regev stated this tax is too costly and will deliver a fatal blow to large families and the nation’s poor.

The daily Yediot Achronot quotes a “senior treasury source” who defends the move, asking rhetorically why shoppers pay VAT tax on eggs, bread and other items while fruit and vegetables are exempt. The finance minister also reiterated his support for the move, stating the poor will pay NIS 150 million in tax while hotels, the IDF, institutions and restaurants will generate NIS 1.8 billion annually from this tax.

In any event, vegetable merchants are expected to arrive at Knesset on Tuesday and the day promises to be a difficult one as security officials will work to maintain order and prevent them from disrupting the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)