Holon Municipality Sues Garage Owner for NIS 22.3 Million in Unpaid Taxes

The Holon Municipality has filed a lawsuit against Levi Garage HaGivah and its owner, Yair Levi, demanding NIS 22.3 million in unpaid municipal property tax (Arnona) for the years 2020-2025. The municipality alleges that the garage has occupied a "very large area" of public land on HaShva'a Road in Holon for many years, operating a business involving hundreds of shipping containers and storage units, and even a residential dwelling.

According to the lawsuit, the land primarily belongs to the State of Israel, with some portions belonging to the municipality. The defendants are accused of trespassing and acting as owners of these lands for an extended period. Court rulings, including a May decision by Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg, have previously ordered the eviction of Levi from the property, yet the lawsuit suggests he remains in possession.

This is not the first legal action taken by the municipality. In 2020, Holon sued for NIS 1 million and won the full amount. In 2023, a NIS 2.5 million lawsuit was settled for NIS 1 million. The municipality stated that the current lawsuit could only be filed after lengthy objection proceedings by the garage owner were concluded.

The article questions how such a prolonged occupation of public land, the establishment of extensive businesses, and the accumulation of such a significant tax debt were allowed to occur. It raises concerns about potential safety risks associated with the unauthorized use of the land and the operations conducted there, suggesting that an entity operating in such a manner may not adhere to safety regulations required for business licenses.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Adi Kronfeld, and a defense has not yet been submitted. The article concludes by questioning whether the primary concern is the tax debt, given the prolonged illegal occupation and potential safety hazards.