Gett Expands Beyond Taxis with Nationwide Group Transport Service in Israel
Gett, Israel's leading taxi app, has launched a new service allowing users to book vans, minibuses, and buses nationwide through its app, expanding beyond traditional taxi rides. The service requires bookings at least 12 hours in advance and is operated in partnership with Rideeazy, a platform by Electra Afikim that aggregates dozens of transportation providers. For example, a 13-seat minibus from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport costs 526 shekels, while a 19-seat vehicle from Jerusalem to the airport is priced at 764 shekels. Larger buses, such as a 55-seat from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, cost 1,675 shekels. During the launch period, customers receive a 100-shekel coupon, and prices are expected to be about 10% lower than current market rates.
Gett has solidified its dominant position in Israel's taxi market partly through an exclusive tender at Ben Gurion Airport, revolutionizing the sector with its technology. CEO Mark On stated the company plans to continue expanding its platform with additional transportation solutions in the coming months.
In related economic news, the Israeli diamond industry faces a severe crisis due to reduced demand in China, market flooding by Indian suppliers, and confusion caused by lab-grown diamonds being marketed under the same terminology as natural diamonds. This has led to a dramatic price collapse of 80%-95% for lab-grown diamonds and a corresponding drop in natural diamond prices. Industry veteran Ophir Naim-Doron called this a "major identity theft," emphasizing the need for clearer labeling standards. Globally, some countries like France have banned the official use of "lab-grown diamond," replacing it with "synthetic diamond."
Additionally, former Mossad chief Dedi Barnea was appointed global chairman of US defense company Ondas Defense, which has acquired several Israeli defense startups. Ondas has seen its stock rise over 300% since August 2025, with strong investor confidence.
Lastly, Israel ranks second worldwide for food costliness according to The Economist's Big Mac Index, with a Big Mac priced at $7.67, attributed to factors like kosher regulations, high VAT, bureaucratic barriers, and government policies. This marks a significant rise from 2005 when Israel was ranked 21st in cost of living indices.
Meanwhile, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invoked a rare emergency clause to convene the Finance Committee during the election recess to approve controversial budget transfers totaling approximately 490 million shekels, including funds for religious institutions and settlement culture projects. Opposition parties condemned the move as a "daylight robbery" and petitioned the Supreme Court.
