Israeli Parties Outline Economic Stances on Cost of Living, Taxes, and Deficit

A comprehensive survey of Israeli political parties' economic platforms reveals diverse approaches to tackling the cost of living, taxation, and national debt. The Globes "Whistleblower" project sent 18 economic questions to parties projected to pass the electoral threshold, receiving responses from most, though Likud, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Ra'am did not reply. Parties generally expressed support for measures like accelerating imports to lower prices, addressing market concentration throughout the supply chain, and removing import barriers. Many also favored strengthening transparency and enforcement against excessive pricing, defining 'excessive price' legally, and requiring large companies to disclose profitability reports. Proposals for breaking up monopolies included establishing professional committees to recommend structural changes and legislative amendments, with some parties also advocating for dismantling the Chief Rabbinate's monopoly on kosher certification.

Regarding taxation, the Democratic party stands out as the only respondent in favor of raising taxes in principle, earmarking savings for education, employment, and vocational training, and reinstating automatic tax bracket adjustments. Other parties generally opposed tax increases, with some, like Israel Beiteinu, opposing property taxes, and others, like Yisrael Beiteinu and Likud, suggesting potential taxes on excess corporate profits or specific household needs like long-term care insurance if necessary. The issue of increasing the debt-to-GDP ratio saw no decisive answers from several parties, while others emphasized fiscal responsibility and avoiding deficit increases.

On defense spending, many parties stated they would not compromise on Israel's security, proposing to reduce defense needs through shared burden, settling fronts, and political arrangements. Some parties, like the Democratic party, suggested reducing defense needs by implementing 21-30 days of reserve duty annually and returning workers and business owners to the economy. The Democratic party also champions infrastructure development, including accelerating rail lines to Kiryat Shmona and completing planning for a railway to Eilat, viewing it as crucial for developing the North and South.

In real estate, most parties opposed raising taxes on property investors, favoring increased housing supply, streamlining construction, and promoting long-term rentals and affordable housing instead. Several parties also opposed lotteries for subsidized apartments, advocating for affordable housing, long-term rentals, and public housing. Regarding transportation, the Democratic party supports implementing existing plans for 600 km of bus lanes within three years and opposes congestion charges without a viable public transport alternative, suggesting that any revenue should fund public transport upgrades, particularly in the Negev and Galilee.