MK Dan Illouz of the Likud is absolutely right, because the barriers to free trade, i.e. export and import, are breathtaking in Israel – and over-protected by the Supreme Court. Most of the import rules create oligopolies and cartels and help both the state and the port to achieve de facto state-guaranteed profits. The consumer pays for this.
“Let it be clear—the only answer to the cost of living is removing barriers; the only answer is a free market. No more temporary solutions that cause more harm than benefit, no more suffocating taxes. Just as the free market brought Israel’s economy to meteoric growth, the free market will enable all Israelis to enjoy the fruits of this growth.”, said Illouz.
As one of the main obstacles, he regards correctly the bureaucracy. So many generations of Israeli politicians said it, but none changed it. The sad fact is, Israel has a deep state with its own goals and mechanics which has nothing to do with the daily life. The only connection is, that the people are paying this show of inefficiency.
The inefficiency and redundancy of the bureaucracy are overwhelming. Here Israel comes in at an embarrassing 115th place (out of 190 countries), as on VonNaftali reported. Bureaucracy is the main problem for innovation in Israel. And not only for innovation and business, but also in everyday life for the average citizen.
Hence, MK Dan Illouz demand is correct: “The bureaucracy and regulation in Israel are killing the dreams of young entrepreneurs who want to build a small business, regardless of whether it is a restaurant, a technological company or an independent artist. Small businesses are not asking the state for special benefits, just for one thing—for the state to stop interfering, for the state to allow them to succeed.”
Everything well said, but how, what are the next steps?