Smotrich announces aid for businesses up to 40 km from Gaza, surprising treasury officials

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says during a discussion of government aid to ailing businesses deeply affected by the ongoing war that compensation will be paid to businesses located up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Gaza border, to make it include cities such as Ashdod and Beersheba.

Last week, the government approved aid to businesses up to 20 kilometers from the Strip.

Finance Ministry officials tell the Ynet news site that Smotrich’s remark is the first they’re hearing of this expansion of aid, saying it will cost billions and will prompt pressure from more municipalities to get compensation, such as Rishon Lezion which has suffered “no less and even more” rocket impacts than Ashdod or Beersheba.

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