Uber and Similar Services Approved by Israeli Ministerial Committee

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved yesterday the Shared Transportation Bill proposed by MK Moshe Pessel and MK Eitan Ginzburg, in line with the reform promoted by the Ministry of Transportation headed by Minister Miri Regev. The law is intended to regulate and enable the operation of shared ride services in Israel, a model successfully operated in major cities worldwide (similar to Uber and Lyft), while balancing against the taxi industry and ensuring passenger safety.


Under the law, technological transportation operators will be able to offer ride services based on smart applications, connecting private drivers with passengers. This move is expected to significantly increase the transportation supply in cities and in the periphery, improve service availability during peak hours and weekends, and lead to a reduction in travel prices for the general public.


The law includes meticulous regulation on safety issues, requiring driver screening, appropriate insurance, and monitoring the condition of the vehicle, alongside a compensation mechanism and support for the existing taxi industry to ensure a fair transition to the new era.


Transportation Minister Miri Regev: "Our vision is to bring Israel into an era of smart, accessible, and cheap transportation. The approval of the law today is a historic step that will break old monopolies, create thousands of new jobs, and open the market to real competition for the benefit of the public. The shared ride reform is real good news for the citizens of Israel that will help remove private cars from the road, reduce traffic congestion, and provide every citizen with the ability to travel easily and at a fair price."


CEO of the Ministry of Transportation, Moshe Ben Zaken: "The shared ride service operates in dozens of countries around the world and it's time it operated in Israel too. Under the guidance of Minister Regev, we have formulated a model that balances the critical need for flexible transportation solutions with the preservation of passenger safety, while formulating a fair compensation path for the taxi industry that will ensure a responsible transition to the new era. Our goal is to enable every citizen, at any time, to order a ride at the push of a button, thereby creating a real and cost-effective alternative to owning a private car and reducing the cost of living."