Yaron Zelekha Promises Major Cost-of-Living Cuts, Claims Netanyahu Fears Appointing Him Finance Minister

Yaron Zelekha, an influential Israeli economist and leader of the Economic Party, has vowed to drastically reduce Israel's high cost of living if given political power. In a detailed interview, Zelekha revealed a secret three-hour meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before the recent war, during which Netanyahu allegedly admitted that he fears appointing Zelekha as finance minister due to his stance against entrenched economic interests.

Zelekha claims Israel's cost of living is 35 to 40 percent higher than in Western Europe and the US, and he pledges to cut this gap by at least 10 percent within two years, effectively putting an extra 2,000 shekels per month into the average family's pocket. He plans to achieve this by breaking monopolies in banking, insurance, food, and housing, and by severing the corrupt ties between politicians and wealthy business interests. Zelekha accuses current and past finance ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich, of failing to implement genuine reforms, instead protecting monopolies like Strauss and Tnuva.

He also criticized the media, accusing outlets and journalists such as Raviv Drucker of being influenced by advertisers from major corporations, which he says work against his reform agenda. Despite his confrontational approach, Zelekha insists he is not a typical politician but a proven reformer with decades of experience, including a successful tenure as finance ministry director in the early 2000s.

On security and political issues, Zelekha identifies as right-wing but prioritizes lowering the cost of living above partisan divides. He opposes a Palestinian state and supports partial West Bank annexation only with international agreement. He advocates for drafting most ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, though he keeps his recruitment plan confidential. Zelekha refuses to align exclusively with Netanyahu or his opponents, emphasizing his independence and willingness to cooperate with any party committed to economic reform.

Zelekha also linked Israel's economic struggles to its security challenges, blaming Netanyahu for budget cuts that weakened the military and infrastructure. He argues that reducing the cost of living will free up funds to strengthen defense. Despite his large social media following, he acknowledges skepticism among some Israelis but urges them to engage with his detailed policy proposals. He rejects offers to join existing parties unless he can lead a strong independent bloc capable of influencing government formation.

Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Zelekha promises to continue fighting for economic change and calls on other political actors to overcome their fear of confronting powerful economic interests for the good of the country.