Israel government apes Biden trying to justify electricity price hike
Israel's government Monday decided to hike electricity prices for citizens by 9.6% beginning August 1st, reported YNet, in an effort to phase out coal consumption by 2025 to accommodate the environment.
August is when the Middle East heat typically peaks and Israelis turn to air conditioning for relief. For one person in a small, 45-sq meter apartment, the average cost of electricity, heating and gas is about NIS 615 (US $176).
In 2020, Israel Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz announced the country would be reducing coal-powered consumption from 30% to 24.9% by the end of 2020, according to Times of Israel. The minister also pledged to permanently close 4 out of 6 coal-fired towers at the Orot Rabin power station in Hadera. This was accomplished in June.
The purpose, Steinitz said in a statement, is to reduce pollution – and, of course, save lives.
“Some 2,500 Israelis are estimated to die each year from illnesses linked to pollution,” reported Times of Israel gravely.
Indeed, Israel has reduced its coal-powered energy consumption to about 23%.
But in a statement justifying its decision to hike prices by nearly 10% this August, the Electricity Authority blamed it on “a global energy crisis.”
"In the second half of 2021, a global energy crisis began which significantly affected the prices of all fuels,” announced the Electricity Authority in a statement. “As a result, energy and electricity prices in many countries around the world have risen significantly.”
The authorities also blamed “coal prices”, leaving out that they have been restricting the country’s coal production.
"In recent months, coal prices have continued to rise sharply by more than 140% compared to the price . . . at the beginning of the year.”
The statement bore similarities to Joe Biden’s strategy regarding skyrocketing gas prices, which is to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin in addition to the “global energy crisis” for the hike, despite Biden having restricted oil production since his first day in the White House.
While Israelis grapple with the seventh highest cost of living in the world - and Tel Aviv residents enjoy living in the world’s most expensive city – Israel’s government has been implementing environmental measures financially taxing on Israeli citizens. Last year, amid Israel’s third nationwide lockdown, the government raised the plastic tax to $3.51 per 2.2 lbs on purchases of plastic plates, bowls, straws, cups, and cutlery, making the purchase of plasticware impractical for the lower and middle classes.
