{"id":60571,"date":"2026-07-01T00:43:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:43:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/naftali-bennett-unveils-plan-to-lower-israels-cost-of-living\/01\/07\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T00:43:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T04:43:10","slug":"naftali-bennett-unveils-plan-to-lower-israels-cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/naftali-bennett-unveils-plan-to-lower-israels-cost-of-living\/01\/07\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Naftali Bennett unveils plan to lower Israel\u2019s cost of living"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Yashar Party&#8217;s proposal targets monopolies, import restrictions, and barriers to competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/gadi-eisenkot-launches-yashar-campaign-011848004.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Yashar;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Yashar&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Yashar<\/a> Party, unveiled a plan on Tuesday to rehabilitate Israel\u2019s economy and address the country\u2019s high cost of living.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The plan, titled \u201cA New Agreement on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/business-and-innovation\/article-894664\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Cost of Living;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Cost of Living&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Cost of Living<\/a>,\u201d proposes a series of regulatory measures aimed at lowering prices. At the center of the proposal is \u201cdeclaring an all-out war on monopolies and centers of economic concentration responsible for high prices.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Israel is among the most expensive countries in the developed world. It ranks fifth among OECD countries in the cost-of-living index for food products, with prices more than 33% above the OECD average.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Reducing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/business-and-innovation\/banking-and-finance\/article-900726\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:food prices;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;food prices&quot;}\" class=\"link \">food prices<\/a> to the OECD average would save an Israeli family about NIS 8,000 a year, according to the Yashar Party. The party said that goal is at the heart of its \u201cNew Agreement on the Cost of Living.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One of the plan\u2019s main proposals would require monopolies to divest brands over which they have monopolistic control. The party also seeks to dismantle monopolies throughout the supply chain.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>View of the Modi&#8217;in Technology park. December 18, 2025. (credit: YOSSI ALONI\/FLASH90)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Under the proposal, the exclusive importer of a major brand would be barred from distributing other major brands. Monopolies would also be prohibited from managing trade agreements on behalf of small suppliers or serving as their distributors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The plan also calls for measures to break up Shufersal\u2019s regional monopoly. Under the proposal, a corporation that holds a regional monopoly would be required to sell some of its stores in that area. The company would also face restrictions on opening new branches, including Shufersal Sheli locations.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Fixed grants for farmers<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The party proposed providing farmers with direct support through fixed grants. It also called for a set of assistance programs for farmers and the agricultural sector, as well as grants and state-guaranteed loans to support mechanization and improve efficiency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The measures would be implemented alongside the removal of regulations that restrict competition and the gradual elimination of tariffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cIn the war against the cost of living, the farmers will be on our side,&#8221; the party stated. &#8220;We will bring Israeli farmers&#8217; conditions in line with those of European farmers, and only afterward will we open the market to competition. In this competition, Israeli agriculture will win.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">Kosher-certification competition<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The plan also calls for greater competition in the kosher-certification market and would allow consumers to choose from a range of kosher certifications. It would not change the Chief Rabbinate\u2019s process for granting kosher certification.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cLowering prices requires courage,&#8221; said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/naftali-bennett-warns-israel-us-203441911.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Bennett;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Bennett&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Bennett<\/a>. &#8220;We will wage a struggle against the strongest monopolies and pressure groups in the country, which have grown accustomed to no one touching them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe ministers in the current government are incapable of dismantling monopolies because they are afraid. We will protect Israeli workers, dismantle the monopolies, and increase competition. I owe them nothing. They will attack us, but I am prepared to pay the price in order to lower prices for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/naftali-bennett-unveils-plan-lower-040232482.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Yashar Party&rsquo;s proposal targets monopolies, import restrictions, and barriers to competition. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Yashar Party,<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/naftali-bennett-unveils-plan-to-lower-israels-cost-of-living\/01\/07\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":60572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7oleZA4NgmCJ1xZVvG1KiQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD04MDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/jerusalem_post_articles_818\/6acf3c6f19b94f6593936c25f179161c","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60571"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60571"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60571\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}