What Israel's parties say about the economy and the cost of living

The cost of living plan is about food prices.⁵ It says a large importer could distribute only one monopoly brand, and gives the example that Tnuva could not control milk, chicken and frozen vegetables at the same time.⁵ It would adopt European food standards, set up one central food authority, cancel tariffs and replace them with direct support for farmers.⁵ It would also automatically recognize kosher certification from abroad.⁵ The stated target is that within three years, the Israeli grocery basket costs the OECD average.⁵

For small businesses, they propose a permanent compensation mechanism that kicks in automatically in an emergency, without waiting for a government decision.²² An English-language page on hi-tech sets a goal of fifteen percent of Israelis working in the sector.²⁹

Yesh Atid's own list says it would cut the number of ministries and create one new one, a ministry for fighting the cost of living.³²

I didn't find a published position on income tax rates, VAT or the minimum wage.

The full B'Yachad episode

The economic plan is built on one principle, which they repeat across the site: whoever serves and works gets priority.⁷ Tax credit points and state aid would be reshaped to reward people who carry the economic and security burden, and the plan says work should always pay more than a stipend.⁷

On prices, they'd cancel import barriers and Israel-specific product standards "that have no justification," open the market to parallel imports, and reform kashrut and kosher imports.⁷ They'd cut income tax and pay for it with taxes on things like disposable tableware and sweetened drinks.⁷ They'd require real-time digital reporting of large transactions, sharply limit cash, and use AI to catch fake invoices.⁷

There are specific numbers in other plans. Conscript pay would go up 15 percent for everyone, and 50 percent for front-line combat soldiers in their third year.⁶ They promise 20 billion shekels for reservists over three years.⁶ And the northern plan commits about 15 billion shekels over five years, with new corporate tax rates of 2.5 percent on the confrontation line and 5 percent in the northern district along the Krayot to Kinneret line.¹³

The full Yashar episode

Still to come

Sharshar, Partnership for Everyone, Pirate Party, Amcha Yisrael, Israel First, Garden of Eden, Women's Voice, Together We Will Succeed, Yisrael Beiteinu, Just Law, Shema, Otzma Yehudit, New Order, The Reservists and the Economic Party, The Democrats, Ra'am, Shas, Haredi Public, Me and You, Brit Olam, Tikun, The Biblical Bloc, Betach, Orot HaShachar, Personal Security, Black Color, Likud, Blue and White, Religious Zionism-Zehut, Achi Movement, Tzomet Beit Israel, Derech Hazon VeTekuma, The Joint List, HaKahal, United Torah Judaism, Noam L'Yisrael.