Israel’s depleted workforce during war costs 2.3 billion shekels a week -cenbank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The cost to the economy of Israel’s depleted workforce, which has been significantly impacted during the war with the Islamist militant group Hamas in Gaza, is 2.3 billion shekels ($600 million) a week, the Bank of Israel said.

Those costs stem from the closing of many schools nationwide, the evacuation of about 144,000 workers from areas near the borders with Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the drafting of military reservists, said the central bank.

($1 = 3.8366 shekels)