Fruit merchants are continuing protests in the hope of averting the decision to levy value added tax on fruits and vegetables. Vendors in Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market shuk will be striking on Sunday, followed by Machane Yehuda shuk in Yerushalayim on Monday.

A kenos to explain the situation will be held on Sunday, attended by merchants and MK Miri Regev, and the strike actions will culminate with a protest in Yerushalayim on Tuesday, timed to coincide with the vote on the budget.

Rafi Mizrachi, who represents the Carmel shuk merchants questions how the government today can in good conscience speak of imposing new taxes on basics such as fruits and vegetables. He warns the VAT tax will bring more families to starvation, rejecting any attempts to play down the negative impact of such a tax on many Israeli homes.

Finance Minister Dr. Yuval Shteinitz rejects the allegations that the tax will result in increased hunger, stating the tax evaders and the wealthy will pay while the poor will not pay, but they will receive compensation.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)