{
  "id": 10798014,
  "title": "Smotrich to again increase state fuel subsidies to counter rise in gas prices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/smotrich-to-again-increase-state-fuel-subsidies-to-counter-rise-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T22:46:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-910122"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Tuesday plans to reduce fuel taxes in an effort to prevent a predicted surge in gas prices. He instructed Treasury officials to deepen subsidies to counterbalance the anticipated rise. The initiative follows Israeli gas prices being set to increase by 52 agorot per liter at the stroke of midnight, bringing the cost to a record high of NIS 8.27 per liter. Smotrich discussed the tax reduction with senior Finance Ministry officials earlier in the day, claiming it to be timely to stimulate economic growth in Israel. This move comes amid a global rise in fuel costs, driven by supply-chain issues and the fragility of the international energy market. Smotrich signed an order in September 6 to cut the price by 50 agorot, managing the deficit through a separate tax reduction, which was approved by the prime minister’s legal advisor. The tactic, deemed unwise by the Treasury’s professional staff, was a repeat of a similar move made in July 2023 to avoid a gas price hike. Since April 2022, the Finance Ministry has consistently relied on such tax provisions.",
  "summary": "A similar move by Smotrich earlier in September, approved by the prime minister's legal advisor, was seen as unwise by the Treasury's professional echelon, according to N12.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}