On Sunday, gasoline prices are expected to rise by 2% and electricity rates are scheduled to go up 8.9%. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to moderate these large price hikes, as he and other politicians are worried about a renewed outbreak of last summer’s protests.

Netanyahu is seeking a last-second way to prevent, or at least reduce the higher prices planned for April 1, and on Monday spoke with the chairwoman of the Public Utility Authority – Electricity Orit Farkash-Hacohen. Netanyahu asked her to examine alternatives to the hike in electricity rates, which the authority decided on last Thursday.

The cause of the steep rise in electricity prices is a shortage of natural gas for power plants, which has required a switch to diesel and heavy fuel oil instead, which are up to five times more expensive for generating electricity.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The 8.9% electricity rate hike was originally scheduled to be 37%, but this was cut in half by a reduction in taxes on the fuel sold to the Israel Electric Corporation. The remainder of the electricity price hike will be spread over the next two years, with a 3.6% additional increase set for the beginning of 2013 and 4.7% more for 2014.

Knesset members have also come out against next week’s planned hikes. Netanyahu met with the chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism ), last Thursday evening. Gafni asked the prime minister to stop the price hikes, calling it a case of saving lives. Netanyahu said he was preparing a solution to the problem, according to Gafni.

For more, go to Haaretz.com

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount