Tiberias Business Owners Protest New Excess Waste Fees Amid Economic Struggles
Dozens of business owners in Tiberias protested on August 16, 2026, against recently imposed "excess waste" fees, which they claim are an unjust financial burden during a challenging economic period. The protest took place on the city's main street, Galil Street, where demonstrators briefly blocked traffic to demand the immediate halt of these charges. The business owners warned that if their demands are not met, the protests will escalate.
The fees apply only to waste exceeding a base quota defined per business, typically calculated by employee count and activity type. This surcharge mainly affects businesses generating large volumes of commercial and industrial waste, such as restaurants, event halls, supermarkets, food chains, factories, logistics centers, and malls. Smaller offices and shops producing less waste usually do not cross the threshold and thus are not charged. The municipality must enact a specific local ordinance approved by the Ministry of the Interior to collect these fees, which must comply with national government standards to prevent arbitrary charges.
Tiberias, heavily reliant on tourism, has suffered economically over the past three years, with a sharp decline in visitors since October 7, 2023. This downturn has severely impacted the entire local commercial and service sectors. Business owners argue that the timing of the new waste fees is particularly damaging given their ongoing financial difficulties.
In response to the protests, the Tiberias municipality announced a temporary freeze on enforcement actions related to the fees and said it will conduct a detailed review of the complaints. A final decision on the implementation and fee structure will be announced in about two weeks. Meanwhile, Mayor Yossi Neve instructed the municipal tax department to halt further enforcement following the initial billing letters sent last month. However, business owners remain skeptical and are awaiting the review outcome to see if the fees will be canceled or significantly revised.
