On Wednesday, the Cancer Society submitted a petition to the High Court, urging for an immediate and complete cancellation of tax exemptions on smoking products entering Israel. The society argued that this subsidy creates a significant distortion with no justification. The petition was filed against the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Health, the Finance Committee of the Knesset, and the Airports Authority.
According to the petition filed by the attorneys’ office, Israel’s government has authorized the Minister of Finance to cancel tax exemptions on smoking products. However, despite this authorization, smoking products purchased duty-free still benefit from tax exemptions in Israel. This decision has led to catastrophic damages to public health and government finances. Smoking is a serious threat to public health and causes significant illness, disability, and premature death in Israel.
The Cancer Society emphasizes that smoking products purchased duty-free endanger lives by benefiting from tax exemptions. They blame the Minister of Finance for withdrawing a draft order to abolish the subsidy in favor of special interests. The association claims that it is unreasonable for the Minister of Finance to maintain this tax exemption outside his authority and undermines public health. They argue that this decision violates government decisions made based on extraneous considerations and is disproportionate.
The Cancer Society believes that billions of shekels will continue to be spent on harms caused by smoking due to this decision. Accordingly, they urge for an immediate cancellation of tax exemptions on smoking products entering Israel through legal action at various levels.
In conclusion, while tobacco use continues to pose a severe threat to public health worldwide, governments must take decisive measures against it through legal frameworks such as taxes or bans. As such, it is crucial for Israeli authorities to take swift action against tobacco use by abolishing all forms of support or encouragement for its continuation.
It should be noted that although some may argue that cigarettes are expensive enough without tax exemptions or subsidies; however, research suggests that smokers are more likely to quit when faced with higher prices due to increased awareness and financial strain.
Therefore, it is essential for governments like Israel’s to prioritize public health over economic interests when implementing policies related to tobacco control.
The Cancer Society has been advocating for smoke-free environments since its inception in 1968 and remains committed to promoting healthy living habits among its members and beyond.