Terror attack victims required to pay for towing
Government discovers new income source, charges bulldozer attack victims for towing their cars
The State of Israel has discovered a new income source: Charging people whose vehicles were damaged in terror attacks for towing services.Yaron Doron
Published: 07.30.08, 08:59 / Israel News
A family of new immigrants from the United States was startled to discover the new policy while trying to overcome the trauma of the first Jerusalem bulldozer attack. The family was ordered to pay for the towing of its damaged car from the attack scene; other residents faced similar demands.The vehicle was towed away, and later the family was contacted by a government appraiser and asked to pay NIS 685 (roughly $200) for towing the car.
The Aizenshtats moved to Israel from the US four years ago. On the day of the bulldozer attack they were driving in their car with their three children near the construction site where the terrorist came from.
"We were driving and suddenly saw the bulldozer charging at us," Rochelle Aizenshtat recounted. "We were in shock and we started screaming." One of the girls in the car sustained light wounds only, but the car was seriously damaged."This is simply a comedy," Rochelle said. "Our car was damaged in a terror attack, and now they're asking us to pay for the towing?" Notably, one of the owners of the towing company, Yuval Hadad, also slammed what he characterized as an "absurd situation."
"Regrettably, the government ordered me to collect the fee," he said. "I told them it's not alright. Isn't the experience they went through enough?" Hadad added that other residents were also required to pay the towing fee. After the Tax Authority was contacted, officials said they would compensate the car owners and refrain from charging from towing in the future.
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