Beginning in April 2013, smokers entering Israel are in for an unpleasant surprise. The duty free limit for cigarettes is being knocked down from two cartons to one. The move is part of the Finance Ministry’s effort to boost government income, and this move is expected to generate 150 million NIS annually. Yisrael Hayom reports this is just stage one, and at some future date the treasury plans to end the duty free status for cigarettes entirely, arguing it is unfair that Israelis traveling abroad can benefit from the lower prices smokes while Israelis at home pay significantly more.

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(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)