Israel unveils $1.3 bln plan to reduce cost of living

In a press conference in Jerusalem, Bennett, Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman and Economy Minister Orna Barbivai announce tax breaks to working families and customs cut for meat, fish and certain household goods
Ynet, Agencies |Updated:
Israel unveiled a $1.3 billion plan to reduce the cost of living on Wednesday, including tax cuts for working families, child-care subsidies and streamlined regulation to stimulate price-cutting competition for products.
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  • Rising prices have stirred anger among Israelis struggling to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting feuding between Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government and leading household goods suppliers and importers.
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    נפתלי בנט
    נפתלי בנט
    Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announcing economic plan to ease cost of living
    (Photo: GPO)
    In a televised press conference alongside Bennett, Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the new plan, worth 4.4 billion shekels ($1.37 billion), would save the average Israeli family around 10,488 shekels ($3,270) a year.
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    נפתלי בנט, אורנה ברביבאי ואביגדור ליברמן
    נפתלי בנט, אורנה ברביבאי ואביגדור ליברמן
    Economy Minister Orna Barbivai, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman announcing economic plan
    (Photo: GPO)
    The plan also includes a reduction in the cost of state-provided electricity and the elimination of customs fees on a range of food imports.
    Bennett said the plan put working families in the focus of his government with an intention of encouraging Israelis to work and ensuring they can enjoy an honorable existence.
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    מחאת האפודים הצהובים בירושלים
    מחאת האפודים הצהובים בירושלים
    Protesters demonstrate against economic hardship of small business owners amid COVID pandemic outside the Knesset last week
    (Photo: Moti Kimchi)
    The plan did not specify government assistance to businesses negatively affected by the COVID pandemic but Liberman said those would be addressed in the near future, according to calculations of real need.
    First published: 20:51, 02.09.22
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