News Brief

The government will consider freezing or limiting the "drought tax," if the country's water stores are in reasonable shape, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday. The announcement comes after much criticism by coalition and opposition Mks who say that the average Israeli family will not be able to afford the payments for water if the tax is implemented.

According to statistics presented by opponents of the tax, the average Israeli family will find itself paying as much as between double and four times more for water as they are currently paying.