"Criticism Mounts as Israeli Government Rolls Out Initial Aid Plan for War-Affected Citizens"

Israel government has initiated a relief program to support citizens affected by the war. However, the plan has drawn significant criticism for its limited scope and perceived inefficiency. Starting today, war-affected citizens can submit initial requests for assistance, with grants ranging from NIS 1,000 to NIS 5,000. The Ministry of Finance is expected to develop a comprehensive economic plan, including measures requiring approval from the Knesset's Finance Committee. The estimated cost of this program is approximately two billion shekels.

Criticism has intensified over the Ministry of Finance and the Knesset Finance Committee's perceived slow response since the war's outset. Various sectors, including social organizations, have accused the government and the Knesset of opacity in decision-making, particularly concerning the mobilization of 360,000 reserve soldiers in response to the escalating conflict.

Concerns persist regarding the allocation of initial grants, with some residents feeling overlooked. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's decision to provide grants to select residents of the affected settlements has been met with discontent. Many question the adequacy of a mere NIS 1,000 grant for families who have had to evacuate their homes due to the conflict.

The relief program offers grants of up to NIS 5,000 per family, with a minimum of NIS 1,000 per individual, exclusively for residents living within 7 kilometers of the Gaza Strip. This exclusion leaves out residents of Ashkelon, a city subjected to heavy rocket fire, despite widespread evacuations.

Furthermore, residents of cities such as Ofakim, Shurat Moshavim, kibbutzim, and towns located up to 15 kilometers from the Gaza Strip, also heavily affected, are not included in the initial aid program. The government is being called upon to address the needs of these affected communities, particularly those in dire financial straits.

As of now, the Knesset's Finance Committee has approved only one decision, providing a state guarantee of NIS 6 billion to ensure the stability of three Israeli airlines. Calls are mounting for financial institutions to show leniency towards reservists and Gaza Strip residents by delaying loan repayments without imposing additional interest.

The government is expected to discuss an initial reconstruction plan for 20 settlements in the Gaza Strip, which have suffered extensive damage. Estimates suggest that the cost of rebuilding these settlements may exceed NIS 10 billion over the coming years.

This week, the Treasury and the Knesset Finance Committee will discuss initial aid for farmers whose plots in the Otef have been severely damaged. Plans are also being formulated to support industries, small and medium-sized businesses, and restaurateurs affected by the ongoing conflict.

However, critics argue that the government's response, given the prolonged duration of the war, has been limited in scope and impact, primarily involving relatively small amounts of funding. Initial immediate aid to authorities in the Gaza Strip, for example, amounts to a mere NIS 30 million.

In the midst of ongoing conflict, the government is under increasing pressure to address the concerns of its citizens more comprehensively and efficiently as the situation continues to unfold.