The Knesset's Economics Committee held a special discussion today (Tuesday), initiated by MK Avigdor Lieberman, on the urgent need to formulate a state/national response to businesses affected by protectionist terrorism - through a compensation fund, recognition of events as acts of terrorism, and provision of an insurance package for threatened businesses.
The discussion took place against the backdrop of a series of serious terrorist attacks against business owners in the north, with over 63 incidents reported in the past two months alone, and in the shadow of the case of the Segal transportation company, which last month suffered arson and serious injuries as part of the terrorist attacks that reached the private home of the owner, Moshiko Segal.
Immediately after the incident, the company received notification from the insurance company that the policy had been terminated - a move that could lead to the closure of the company, which employs approximately 100 employees, within a few days.
The Ad Kan organization emphasizes that this is a critical testing moment for the State of Israel - and claims that if the state does not wake up now, the Galilee will collapse and no matter how much money is invested in the reconstruction of the Galilee - most of the money will go to the protection terrorists. According to the organization, as long as the state does not provide insurance and financial support to the businesses being attacked - many business owners are left alone in the face of threats, arson and extortion, and are forced to choose between economic collapse and surrendering to protection terrorism and paying protection fees.
"Ad Kan" claims that creating a compensation and protection mechanism for businesses could break the "chain of fear," because a business owner who knows that the state stands behind him will not be forced to pay for protection in order to survive.
The discussion was attended by representatives of business owners, heads of "Ad Kan", the Segal Transportation Company, members of Knesset, professionals, and representatives who were directly affected by the protectionist terror.
Yariv Ben Ami, founder of Ad Kan, placed a bottle of gasoline with a lighter on the table and said"This is what we are experiencing, this is the most economical deal in the economy, it costs 10 NIS and brings in tens of thousands of shekels a month. The Ministry of Finance is not at the event, wake up, we are losing the Galilee, our children, our region of the country. We are waving a red flag, if the state does not intervene today - the Galilee will collapse, be abandoned and fall to the protectionist terrorists." Immediately afterwards, the Knesset Guard asked to remove the representatives of Ad Kan from the discussion due to the placement of the representative, in favor of Kan clarified: "Those who put this in business are not arrested, but here in the Knesset are?! This is a symbol of disconnection!""
Moshiko Segal, owner of Segal Transportation Company, who experienced aggressive protection terrorism, said: "The state did not provide me with security. I received a letter that my policy was canceled on May 21. What do you want me to do? Close the business? Send 100 employees home? Forget what my family is experiencing, my children. I am not leaving here without a solution today! I do not want to pay protection, I do not want to.""
Shmuel Zaken, representative of the Capital Market Authority, "On the surface, it seems that there is an expansion of the phenomenon. When a business is threatened, there is a high certainty of damage, and therefore it makes the coverage uneconomic." Head of the Hatzor HaGlilit Council and Chairman of the Tzahar Michael Cabasa said: "This is not a discussion about protection - this is a discussion about sovereignty over the Galilee. We are in no man's land. There is no law and no judge - this is not the Wild West - this is the Wild North. This is terrorism for all intents and purposes, they demanded protection from the electrician who worked at my house and I am the head of the council, what will the citizen say?!""
Government insurance company representative Inbal Ran Lepel said, "The problem is not insurance. The concentration in insurance normalizes the existing situation. Instead of eliminating the risk, we subsidize it." His words caused a great uproar and anger in the current Knesset, when MK Sasson Guetta said: "If the state doesn't subsidize the damage, who will?! What are you talking about?!""
MK Simon Davidson surprised those present and said: "I experienced protection, I don't wish my haters to experience it, criminals come to you and tell you either pay or there's no business. 86% of the recipients paid protection, we need a solution now!""
MK Avigdor Lieberman, who moderated the discussion, said: "The state is abandoning the citizen twice - not providing security and not providing coverage. I thought that the Inbal company should provide coverage, they provided a solution for airlines and shipping companies, and I see no reason why it shouldn't happen here as well - we need to formulate a joint proposal by the coalition and opposition on the issue. In the next government, we will wage an all-out war and establish an emergency headquarters because this is a threat to our future. If the state fails and does not provide the minimum security, this is compensation.".
MK Oded Forer added: "The situation is no different in the center and the Negev - the state has failed to protect its citizens, even from beauticians they charge protection, the state is essentially telling them - pay protection!. You see, the very threat - the business owner loses the insurance, and this is also a basic condition for tenders and work, so the suppliers reach a point where they understand that if they complain they are in trouble. The Ministry of Finance pays protection, IDF bases pay, government companies pay protection!""
Israel Maimon, representative of insurance companies: "There is a problem insuring businesses that are going to be harmed, insurance companies want to make a profit - there is no question. If the state understands that there is a need for extra insurance - if the crime incident in the north becomes the norm, this is not insurance for a risk and the State of Israel, which decided many years ago to take responsibility for terrorist incidents, will take responsibility for it.".
The committee chairman in the MK Liberman debate concluded by saying: "Criminal terrorism is turning into terrorist terrorism. The Segal family's hourglass has turned, on the 21st of the month they are supposed to close the business - I demand an immediate response and solution - now. I will speak with the Accountant General today - we need an immediate solution for these people, I ask for answers by tomorrow - what is the solution for the Segal family, there must be compensation for the damage and a solution for continuing insurance activity.""
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