Tax Inspectors Attacked in Bnei Brak Amidst Coordinated Ultra-Orthodox Protest

Last Thursday, tax inspectors from Israel's Income Tax Authority were violently attacked in the Vizhnitz neighborhood of Bnei Brak, a major ultra-Orthodox community. What initially appeared as a spontaneous disturbance was later revealed to be a coordinated effort by local residents to resist the tax authorities' presence. Ultra-Orthodox community members received recorded voice messages urging them not to cooperate with the inspectors and calling for urgent gatherings to "manage the campaign" against the tax officials.

The inspectors arrived for routine work but were met with a hostile crowd that threw stones, eggs, and other objects at their vehicle, causing significant damage. Police forces intervened to rescue the inspectors amid the chaos. Video footage showed the inspectors struggling to navigate through the crowd while police officers faced verbal abuse and threats, including derogatory chants directed at a female officer.

Following the attack, Shai Aharonovitch, head of the Income Tax Authority, informed Bnei Brak Mayor Hanoch Zeibert that he had ordered his staff to immediately cease handling war-related property damage claims in the city. This decision came after two violent incidents against tax workers in Bnei Brak within a week, both requiring police intervention. Aharonovitch criticized the municipality for not condemning the violence and stated that until a clear denunciation is issued and publicly communicated, tax officials will be considered unwelcome in the city.

The incident highlights escalating tensions between ultra-Orthodox communities and Israeli tax authorities, with the Vizhnitz neighborhood asserting a form of autonomy against state enforcement efforts. The authorities now await an official response from the Bnei Brak municipality before resuming their activities related to war damage compensation claims.