Northerners protest gov't decision to cut tax benefits

Some 400 people protested Thursday near Israel's northern border close to the town of Metula, against the government's plan to cut tax benefits to the confrontation line communities. Earlier, all educational institutions and some of the businesses in the region went on strike.

According to the Tax Authority's proposal, the tax attributes in dozens of communities will be cut by half, while dozens of other communities will receive perks at a similar rate. In several communities, considered well-established, the tax attribute of 13% will be completely cancelled.

Northern local council heads declared during the protest the launch of a struggle over the periphery's future.

'Don't abandon periphery' (Photo: Avihu Shapira)

From the border, the demonstrators proceeded in a motorcade to a junction near Kiryat Shmona, where they blocked the road and set tires on fire. The protesters held up signs saying, "The government has declared a jihad on the north," and "What Hizbullah hasn't accomplished the government is doing now."

The rally is expected to block other intersections in the Upper Galilee.

"Our struggle is similar to that of Sderot and the western Negev communities," head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council Aharon Valensi said Wednesday. "This should be a joint struggle for a change in direction. Otherwise, we will end up losing the periphery," he added.

President Shimon Peres expressed solidarity with the northern residents Thursday, saying that "now is not the time to cut the benefits of the confrontation line communities."

In a meeting with Israeli city mayors, the president called on the municipal officials to join the northerners' campaign. "The government needs to strengthen the Negev and the Galilee and increase the benefits and perks in order to turn the north and the south into established and strong regions whose residents enjoy economic prosperity."

Aviram Zino contributed to the report