The Bank of Israel’s plan to have commercial lenders provide benefits to customers affected by the wars in Gaza and Lebanon came into force today (April 1).

The central bank said the country’s lenders would disburse 3 billion shekels ($833 million) over the next two years on a range of benefits. These would include providing higher rates of interest on short-term deposits, reduced rates on overdrafts, fee exemptions for certain banking activities, and refunds of the interest paid on existing