and I have to breath yr exhaust fumes.

This whole article sounds like some kind of morality tale condemning the fact we tax the rich ( high end brand ) the same as we tax the poor ( low end ). Now its even immoral to tax big brand cigarettes the same as their poorer counterparts. This reads like something from Haaretz. Alot of Lapids cuts or tax rises I disagree with but the cigarette tax hike so what, its a luxury people can do without if they choose. If soldiers can't afford to buy the things on their army salary tough they will have to either quit or find the money. If civilians can't afford to pay such high taxes even on the cheap brands then either buy less of other products or don't smoke. The fact that we make so much tax money from cigarettes is not a reason to be making smoking easier by not raising taxes. We will continue to make plenty of money through higher taxes and those who cannot afford to smoke well thats their problem but smoking is not an exactly something we need for our survival and so they must be affordable to all.

and work with by their smokes from arabs at the shuk for half the price they sell them for at the store. If anything Lapid will make a lot less and will cost him a lot more to curb smuggling and black market deals. Not very good economic policies if you ask me. As for the comment about the poor smoking more this is true but I'd rather be a poor smoker than a rich guy smoking cigars, binge drinking, putting coke in my nose, heroin in my veins and money in the pockets of prostitutes like Lapid's ilk do.

They tried BANNING alcohol in the US during prohibition and it failed. They do BAN drugs and its having only limited success because the smugglers always find a way to beat the system. What we are doing with cigarettes is RAISING TAXES and taxes work thats proven worldwide. We are not making the things illegal so the only way to get them is illegally through black market dealers.

Why he did not launched a campaign under that slogan if he cares that much?

The same in Israel, drug abusers can get on welfare and into programs while smokers are offered a group that helps nobody, it doesn't work. There are programs for smokers to quit in Israel, however they are very expensive and smokers do not get welfare just because they are addicts, or even a stipend to help pay for any real treatment.

keep increasing the prices. I bet you are a fatty and probably going to cost the system more than a smoker would. Time to look in your own mirror and stop the hate.

do not smoke and that bothers me !!i do i have to tolerate breathing shit next to me while working in the mall in (kfar saba Arim Mall) while plenty of people keep on smoking and on the walls are visible written ads SMOKING IS FORBIDDEN AND NO PAKAJIM OR SHOTRIM TO PENALIZE PEOPLE WHO SMOKE IN PUBLIC PLACES JOE CAFFE, HILLANS CAFFE AND GREG CAFFE TAXES FOR CIGARRETES SHOULD BE UP 500% Ariel Rubinstein U ARE WRONGGGG

against smokers. For some months now the Israeli Health Ministry has postd articles attacking the safety of electronic-cigarettes. Their attacks culminated with a propoal for a five year ban on this alternative to cigarettes as a "safety precaution" while more research is done. This flies in the face of rationality and morality. We know more about the contents of e-cigarettes than we do cigarettes and ALL of the research has shown that electronic cigarettes are much much safer than regular cigarettes. So why the campaign? Because the government is addicted to cigarette taxes and like all addicts is willing to do anything to feed its habit --even allow thousands of its family members to die by preventing them access to a safer low cost alternative. The fact that there is a very well politically connected private company with a monopoly on cigarettes (but not e-cigarettes) is more food for thought.

I agree with all of Sarah posts, 100% so true.

because I once put a cigarette in my mouth and now can't stop the ugly habit without someone footing the bill. Really, people - you disgust me - you and your weaknesses.

Should have a look at the scientific papers that all showing that only price increase (via taxes) and legal (and effective) prohibition are the only effective ways to reduce smoking in a country...

if the main object of a national electric company is to produce and supply electricity to the country and citizens, who was the owner and admonistrator of the electricity company in Israel from 1923 to 1961? Israel independence year was in 1948, how do you explain the electical company was under a foreign name so many years and who was paying taxes to who? British issues? Past Jordan agreements with israelis or palestinians that the public never heard about it? Or tell us how much money in taxes the israeli goverment receives from the 120 private companies that sell water to israelis, or what about the desalination plant (water) in Hadera if the investors of that project are from the european private sector, they sell water to West Bank or the european investor pay taxes to Israel? Private companies are using national resources and minerals from the dead sea for buisness, who is responsable for the danger that could lead to israeli ecosystem!

If government were interested in health, it would have to start with them. Not too many MKs are less than 30-40kgs overweight - all those borekas and buns at their meetings. And if they're so concerned about health, they should explain why they impose HIGHER taxes and duties on low fat and low sugar foods. The poorer sector have poorer diets because healthier foods are always the most expensive. Fact.

In Australia the high taxes on cigarettes have been a major factor in reducing the number of smokers. Hitting the hip pocket has been the most effective way of achieving this. Hopefully next budget they will increase this tax. The poor and the stupid do not understand why they should stop whilst young soldiers are at a rebellious age, despite being old enough and educated enough to know better. To save a life is to save the world, so any weapon in the fight against smoking should be welcomed.

Well, then, shouldn't Israel start levying heavy taxes on the heavy? Just trying to save a life or two or a few million. Obesity is a far greater health burden than cigarettes. Curiously enough, cigarette smokers tend to be thin. The obese tend to be -- well -- fat. I would much rather see taxes levied against the overweight. Why should I be compelled to pay for their health issues when they cannot even exhibit enough self-control to curb their eating? Why should their heart problems, circulatory issues, diabetes, blood pressure and the rest of the rainbow of issues be MY problem? Frankly, I'd rather help a smoker. When is the government going to start taxing the fat?

If you'd care to pop round to my nearest taxi rank you will see 90% of them bulging over their chairs - and smoking. In fact, Middle Eastern men everywhere are heavy smokers and happen to have a 46-48$ obesity rate, so you are talking through your hat (as usual). So again, obesity is more prevalent in poor societies because they fill up on cheaper carbohydrates. We talk of taxing the objects of the problem, you talk of taxing the victims (cigarettes are also the product of corporate greed, don't forget). When will you learn a little humanity?

Fast food is also the product of corporate greed. And do you dare deny that the health problems of the overweight are extraordinarily expensive for the Israeli taxpayer? I don't take taxis, by the way. I have a driver. And there is a world of difference between a smoker who is chained to a habit that the government will not pay to break, whereas the overweight are simply self-indulgent.

and is willing to kill to satisfy its addiction. Electronic cigarettes offer an indisputably safer cheaper cleaner alternative to cigarettes. The actual cost to produce a one YEAR supply of e-fluid is less than the tax on a block (carton) of cigarettes. For almost a year the Israeli Health Ministry has waged a war of misinformation and scare tactics against e-cigs culminating in a proposed five year ban while "more research" is done. Done by whom? Certainly not the Israeli government. And researh of what? We know more about the ingredients in e-cigs than in "natural" cigarettes and every research to date has shown that e-cigs are safer than real cigarettes by a factor of hundreds to a thousand times. But, because it is so easy and cheap to produce, it is harder to regulate and it threatens the existing well connected private monopoly on cigarettes and, more importantly, the government's cash flow. So the decision was made to limit if not prevent access to e-cigs and thereby to remove what promises to be the most effective replacement therapy in existence, condeming thousands to die and thousands more of our cildren to be exposed to lethal second hand smoke. Truly a digusting demonstration of our government's cynical disregard for its people. And for those of you under 60; bear in mind that governments conspired with cigarette companies to conceal the dangers of smoking for decades.

OK. The taxes cause everyone to quit smokong. Guess who will then be footing the bill for the programs funded by tobacco taxes...

To Avner No3. Perhaps someone can tell me if as I was told it is still illegal for a cafe/restaurant to allow smoking outdoors if this area is controlled by them ? I believe a smoking area must be separated and confined to where it cannot interfere with other diners.

Quit your complaining and count your blessings!! Just be glad that I am not the one who decides what the taxes should be on cigarettes. I have no tolerance or sympathy for this disgusting habit or the whining that accompanies it. I would double the price of cigarettes immediately if I was in control so be happy and go and do your smoking where the healthy smart people can't smell you!!! ...warm regards, Gregg Bowman