Finance Minister Smotrich Orders Additional Gasoline Price Subsidy
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has ordered officials to prepare an additional gasoline subsidy to counter rising pump prices before the upcoming election.
Jerusalem, 29 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has instructed Finance Ministry officials to prepare an additional subsidy for gasoline, seeking to curb rising prices at the pump amid the global energy crisis.
Gasoline prices are set to rise again by 52 agorot to NIS 8.27 per liter starting Thursday, despite the existing tax reduction. The increase reflects higher international gasoline prices and a stronger U.S. dollar.
Smotrich held a meeting with ministry professionals on Tuesday and ordered them to examine options for further government intervention. The move comes less than a month before Israel’s October 27 election.
The latest announcement follows a 50-agorot-per-liter reduction in gasoline prices ordered by Smotrich earlier this month through a temporary cut in the fuel excise tax. That measure brought the price of 95-octane gasoline down to NIS 7.75 per liter.