Liberman slams Netanyahu after sharp rise in fuel prices

After a sharp rise in fuel prices in Israel, Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Liberman accused Netanyahu's government of inaction. He said the authorities had refused to lower the excise tax and provide compensations that were applied during his tenure as finance minister. The price of a liter of 95-octane gasoline at self-service stations rose by about 60 agorot, and with full service exceeded 8 shekels. The price increase is linked to oil rising above $100 per barrel due to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

In Israel, a fuel price increase has taken effect, one of the sharpest in recent months. Against this backdrop, Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Liberman launched a scathing attack on Benjamin Netanyahu's government, accusing it of inaction and failure to protect citizens from rising fuel costs. According to Liberman, during his tenure as finance minister, the authorities lowered the excise tax and provided compensations to curb price increases. He said the current government has refused such measures, despite the increase affecting millions of Israeli drivers. The politician also criticized the cabinet's economic priorities, noting that the authorities are willing to allocate billions of shekels to other expenditure items but do not reduce the burden on motorists. He attached a photo of Netanyahu refueling a car to his statement. Following the new tariffs, the price of a liter of 95-octane gasoline at self-service stations increased by about 60 agorot. The price with full service exceeded 8 shekels per liter, almost negating the July decrease. The price increase is explained by the situation on the global energy market: oil prices exceeded $100 per barrel, with one reason being Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The price increase has become one of the main topics on the political agenda. The opposition is using the situation to criticize the government's economic policy.