Fuel prices broke a decade high and reached NIS 8.08 per liter, thus changing patterns among Israelis who were hit in the pocket. As a result, many of them decided to switch to public transportation and save their money every month.
"There will be no protest because we are a people who like to suffer" - Yossi Moshe, a taxi driver from Jerusalem
Yossi Moshe, 48, married with four children, is angry about the rise in fuel prices, which also hurts taxi drivers: "I know drivers who got out of the taxi because of the rise in fuel prices," Moshe says sadly.
"A few years ago I used to fill up with NIS 100 and get by all day, and even come back at the end of the day with fuel, and today I put in NIS 250 every working day. ".
Moshe talks about changing his pattern of action at work: "It's not worth traveling with a meter out of town because of the expensive fuel, time and traffic jams," says Moshe.
"Once a trip to Tel Aviv was fun. Today I prefer to work in Jerusalem. When I started working twenty years ago, the price of a liter of diesel was NIS 1.5, and today it is NIS 8.5 after a discount - that's a lot. I calculate every trip if I should do it. Some drivers cancel. Travel that is not worth it. "
Yossi Moshe.
"There will be no protest because we are a people who like to suffer," Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Moshe spoke about the dismal situation of taxi drivers: "There are those who work as taxi drivers and have a pension from another source, but those who work like me only on a taxi, live from hand to mouth. Taxi drivers suffer the most. I got to the point where I shake the pump to get a few more drops "That they will not be wasted. Prices are rising, and our people are screwed and do not want to fight. I wish there would be a protest, but there will not be because we are a people who like to suffer.
"I do not leave the house if I do not have at least two customers" - Israel Tuina, self-employed electrician, from Yakir in Samaria
Israel Tuina recounts how the rise in prices has affected his profession and the considerations that have changed at work following the surge in fuel prices.
For example, Tuina says that if in the past he would leave his house after calling from only one customer, today he only goes to work if he has at least two customers.
Israel Tuina.
"I do not leave the house if I do not have at least two customers," Photo: Courtesy of the person photographed
"To get from my home to a customer in Petah Tikva, it does not pay me to travel, because I lose about 80 shekels per trip. So only if I have at least two customers together does it pay me to leave, to the extent that I prefer not to travel and I just decide to give up," he says. .
"The rise in fuel prices has affected, among other things, my personal life," he adds, referring to the visits to his mother's house in Ganei Tikva, which have diminished following the rise in fuel prices:
Tuina also mentioned the numbers, and shared about the rising costs: "The fuel costs me too much money. About a year ago I filled a full tank and paid about 300 shekels for it. Today, after the price increases, I fill up with about 490 shekels - that's the whole story."
"I switched to public transportation - the expenses reach NIS 200 a month" - Guy David, studio manager in Bnei Brak
Guy David lives in the Tel Giborim neighborhood in Holon and works as a studio manager in Bnei Brak.
With the rise in prices David decided to stop traveling to the office by car and now he uses only public transportation.
According to him, although he extended his walk to half an hour a day, the costs of travel were reduced from about NIS 800 to only NIS 200.
Guy David.
"I switched to public transportation,"
"It turns out that in order to come to the office with the car every time, I spend about one-eighth of all, depending on the roads and congestion," says David.
As mentioned, he started traveling to Bnei Brak by train.
Although the pocket was less damaged, the ride comfort decreased slightly.
"The train functions on a good day and a bad day," he says of the experience.
"It happens that I am a little late for work because the train skipped the station or there are renovations - it is a lack of organization on their part."
Regarding the cost jump, David does not know to whom to point the finger of blame.
"I can indirectly understand where the price jump is coming from, like the war between Russia and Ukraine and gas, but I just do not understand why I have to suffer from it."
When asked if he advises more people to adopt his new way and take public transport, he replies: "Not sure, I would prefer that people could get to their work in a normal way regardless of private car and regardless of IDF."
"I started charging NIS 100 for a consulting meeting, I offset if I close a deal" - Yarin Edri, renovation contractor, Ashdod
Yarin Edri, a renovation contractor from Ashdod, says that since the increase in fuel prices, he has decided to charge NIS 100 for a consultation meeting he previously held for free.
All this to avoid a situation where he spends money on meetings that do him no financial benefit.
Yarin Edri.
"I started charging NIS 100 for a counseling session," Photo: Courtesy of the person photographed
"Before fuel reached the price of gold I would take far-reaching jobs of an hour or more. Today, after the crazy wave of ups and downs, I can not afford to go to some far-reaching offers without 'insuring' myself," he recounts, explaining what led to that move: "If the deal closes - I deduct from the amount. Two and a half weeks ago I was in several meetings in Netanya, Tel Aviv and Be'er Sheva that day, nothing closed and the fuel cell emptied. This makes customers sometimes reluctant to consult with me, but I have no choice."
Edri says he is not the only one: "I have heard of a lot of people who have adopted what I have done, not only in the renovation industry but also other freelancers."
He criticizes the government: "The main blame is on the 'change' government of Bennett, Lapid and Lieberman. They are directly responsible for the insane rise that has taken place here in everything. Not just on fuel, we will soon pay tax on the air we breathe."
"We are in a very difficult situation, the government has no answers" - Doron Shukerni, owner of the "National Carrier" transportation company operating in Ramla
Doron Shukerni, owner of a transportation company that works with government ministries, says that the rise in diesel prices has caused all companies in the industry heavy financial losses.
"The price of diesel has risen by 35% and we are losing money today. Such an amount is burdensome for revenues, which have been reduced anyway. We are after a period of Corona and have not yet recovered from it," says Shukerni.
After the price increase Shukerni says that he asked customers to raise rates and received a negative answer.
He addressed the criticisms mainly to the various government ministries.
"At the Ministry of Education, we are committed as transportation companies to three-year tenders. We sent a request to go out to a new tender because of the increase in the price of diesel and received a negative answer.
"The country is in a very big crisis as we are noticing. We have also received a negative response from various factories regarding price increases, as they are also in a difficult situation at the moment. Government ministries do not recognize us, so it affects us greatly."
Shukerni continued the attack, saying that "the Ministry of Transportation works and takes care of public transport and disregards the transportation industry, which actually keeps the students and drives them to schools. We also drive the soldiers because we work with the Ministry of Defense, and we also received a negative answer."
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