Israel Considering Fixed Prices for Food and Services in Airports, Hospitals

Israel’s Ministry of Economy and Industry is looking to reduce food and service prices in public establishments including local airports and hospitals, the ministry announced Sunday. The ministry is considering either setting up fixed prices for some or all products or making “reasonable pricing” a pre-condition for winning relevant tenders. Prices in public establishments in Israel are often significantly higher than they are in shops and restaurants elsewhere, taking advantage of a “captive audience,” according to a statement by the ministry. Facing a similar problem in its beaches, in 2016, the city of Tel Aviv began enforcing fixed prices for products including bottled water, popsicles, and hummus filled pitas, in licensed seaside businesses.