Operation Epic Fury – Relief Measures and Emergency Guidelines for Local Authorities
Summary
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Against the backdrop of the security developments during Operation Epic Fury, Israel’s Ministry of Interior published on March 1, 2026, a series of regulatory reliefs and emergency guidelines for local authorities across a range of areas. The purpose of these reliefs is to strengthen the municipal resilience of the local authorities and to enable continued functioning and continuity in the provision of services to residents even during an emergency.
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The reliefs and guidelines will apply, at this stage, until May 31, 2026.
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We will continue to monitor additional publications and guidelines from the Ministry of Interior and other authorized authorities and will provide updates accordingly regarding any relevant change or development.
On March 1, 2026, following the launch of Operation Epic Fury, Israel’s Ministry of Interior published a series of regulatory reliefs and emergency guidelines for local authorities to strengthen municipal resilience and facilitate functional continuity and the provision of solutions to residents in times of emergency. The measures will remain in effect from March 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026.
Inter alia, the measures relate to human capital, budgets (regular and contingency), the prioritization of applications for mutual assistance among local authorities in conformity with the Ministry of Interior Director-General’s Circular 2/2015, and the transfer of assistance grants to local authorities to help them provide solutions to residents whose homes were damaged as a result of Iranian missile barrages.
Human Capital
Considering the recruiting and hiring difficulties during routine times, and all the more so during wartime, local authorities may hire employees to fill vacancies in essential roles for a fixed period of time, until the role can be filled through a standard tender process.
Under particular circumstances, local authorities may extend the employment of employees aged 70+ without the city council’s approval.
Local authorities may, at their discretion, convene meetings of examination committees via video conferencing (Zoom).
Under particular circumstances, local authorities may use employees of municipal corporations to provide emergency services to residents.
Budget Management
Local authorities may use surplus cash from their development funds to cover expenses and damages directly arising from the state of emergency, including caring for the affected population, increasing readiness and competencies, forming teams to strengthen social resilience, maintaining essential infrastructure, maintaining public order, providing temporary housing to evacuated residents in the authorities’ facilities, and handling hazards. Essentially, the Temporary Order dated June 16, 2025, issued during Operation Rising Lion, is being applied to Operation Epic Fury.
Local authorities may attribute returns on investments of surplus cash in routine times to the regular budget (with the district budget manager’s approval).
Local authorities may postpone repayments of loan principal by three months, in coordination with lenders.
Under particular circumstances, control companies on behalf of the Ministry of Interior may perform their functions via video conferencing (Zoom).
Mutual Assistance Among Local Authorities
The Ministry of Interior’s Director-General announced that his ministry will act to prioritize local authorities’ applications for mutual assistance, in conformity with Circular 2/2015, as a top priority, in order to authorize the provision of assistance as soon as possible.
Assistance Grants
Pursuant to Resolution 3940, the Ministry of Interior will provide assistance to local authorities in whose jurisdictions residents’ homes were damaged and became uninhabitable, as specified below:
- A one-time sum of ILS 1,500 for every person who resided in the damaged property, to finance the authorities’ expenses in providing immediate solutions to them.
- A one-time sum of ILS 500 for every person who resided in the damaged property, to finance the aforesaid residents’ immediate needs.
Such assistance will be in addition to any compensation pursuant to the Property Tax and Compensation Fund Law, 1961 and its regulations.