Smotrich promises: "A good government will be established in the coming days" (Knesset Channel)
The economic decrees on the citizens of Israel only begin today (Sunday), at the beginning of 2023, with the increase in electricity prices, property tax, fuel, water and taxation on electric cars.
If you thought we were done with the resolutions for the new year, the next wave is very close: electricity will become more expensive by 8.2%, water by 3.5%, property tax between 1.5% and 3%, taxation on electric cars by 10% and fuel that will become more expensive by 9 cents and its price will stand at NIS 6.94, will lead to another sharp increase in food prices in mid-January, according to market sources.
Facing this complex issue now stands the new Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who received a problematic inheritance from the previous government, returning as a transitional government without powers.
He knew very well what he was getting into, when he fought to get the treasury portfolio, and as part of the plan that is taking shape in his office, there is an intention to deal with monopolies in the food market and work to dismantle them, in order to curb their power and lower the cost of living.
received a problematic inheritance.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Photo: Reuven Castro)
In Smotrich's environment, who has been immersed in the data for the past few weeks, they understand that only a root treatment, like the one done by the Strom committee in the banks, when it separated the credit cards from their operations, can bring about a real and long-term change in the spending of the Israeli consumer.
If his plan is implemented, a corporation will not be able to import, export, market products of other companies and be a retailer at the same time.
Standing up to the large corporations in the economy, which have dominated the food market for decades, is a brave move on Smotrich's part and he is expected to encounter strong opposition from them, in the face of the intention to narrow their steps and reduce their power and influence.
If indeed Smotrich implements his plan, he will follow in the footsteps of Moshe Kahlon, who fought the cellular companies and won, and Lieberman, who opened a front against the agricultural lobby and passed a comprehensive import reform, and will become the first finance minister who dared to stand up to the powerful monopolies that dominate the food market.
The current government, which was sworn in on Thursday, and promised to lower the prices of property tax, water, electricity and fuel, could not stop the price increases that came into effect today, due to the lack of time.
If his plan does come to fruition, the Minister of Finance, who started on the left foot, will continue on the right.
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