Achievements
The numerous accomplishments and achievements we have attained for the greater public since the inception of this project are entirely attributed to the public’s involvement. Every matter we address is proposed and selected via democratic voting by Lobby members. Indeed, their active participation and membership contributions sustain and support our initiatives. All their contributions play a vital role in fueling our endeavors.
- We successfully prevented appointments that exemplify the "revolving door" phenomenon between the civil service and the private sector. One notable example is blocking the appointment of the deputy responsible for the budget division at the Ministry of Finance to serve as the CEO of the Isramco gas company.
- Our efforts contributed to the enactment of a law that strengthens the competition authority's capabilities to counteract large corporations and monopolies.
- We spearheaded a public campaign to oppose Eliezer Fishman's proposed debt settlement and advocated for the establishment of a parliamentary investigation committee to address irresponsible loans granted by banks to tycoons.
- Following the controversial deal with the Fishman family members, we identified that bank oversight lacks a clear procedure for managing debt settlements for magnates. We have since introduced such a procedure.
- A government task force examining the enforcement of the Eonomic concentration Anti-Concentration Law has adopted most of our recommendations. These include addressing the monopolies within the pension and insurance sectors and expanding the law’s applicability to prominent importers.
- We have refined the legislation governing the Regulatory Authority, ensuring its operations align with public interest rather than solely gains for business tycoons.
- We have taken steps to ensure that no single lobby firm represents both the electric and gas companies, maintaining transparency in the gas pricing negotiations.
- We exposed a network of virtual digital profiles designed to boost the reputation of the “Delek” group, headed by Yitzhak Tshuva.
Power, Politics and the Media
- We effectively prevented the Ministry of Communications from redirecting the Public Broadcasting Corporation's funds to favor business tycoon -controlled commercial channels.
- We succeeded in incorporating significant clauses in the proposed broadcasting legislation, raising the bar for business magnates to meet ownership criteria in new ventures.
- We managed to integrate limiting conditions in the approval granted to the new streaming venture of the monopolistic communications entities ‘Keshet’ and RGE, ensuring a more balanced competitive landscape.
- We successfully advocated a reduction in the maximum management fees for pensioners, from 0.5% to 0.3%, securing 2.6 billion NIS in savings for the public in the upcoming five years.
- We have mandated pension funds and insurance companies to disclose the concealed management fees they impose (amounting to 2 billion NIS annually). Henceforth, these fees will be showcased as a consistent sum, facilitating easier comparison.
- We advocated for a change in the default preference of the government's "Savings For Every Child" program, directing funds towards provident funds that have proven to yield better results than their banking equivalents.
- We successfully prevented the controlling shareholders of ‘’Knfaim’’ from proceeding with a transaction aimed to funnel millions of shekels to their families, safeguarding public interests
- Amid the Covid-19 crisis, we curbed an escalation in pension management fees for countless Israelis who faced layoffs or who were placed on medical leave
- Thanks to our initiatives, the investment committee chairman at The Phoenix Insurance Company who concurrently served in leadership positions across multiple public firms, creating a conflict of interest with the public’s welfare, was compelled t
- We successfully spearheaded legislation that enforces strict transparency guidelines on lobbyists, requiring them to record their involvement in Knesset committee meetings and to publicly state their client affiliations.
- We influenced key government ministries including the Ministries of Finance, Justice, and Environmental Protection to release protocols dictating their staff's engagements with lobbyists.
- We facilitated the adoption of the "Fax Law", compelling government ministries and public entities to correspond via email, rather than outdated fax machines, and to disclose respective, accessible contact information.
- We endorsed transparency regulations for associations in 2019, which have now been offi
- We have limited the covert influence of large corporations on legislation, guaranteeing public access to legislative feedback through the Freedom of Information La
- In collaboration with the TV show "The Tube" [Ha’Tzinor’] we spearheaded the "Pasta Rebellion" and "Tuna Rebellion." These movements spotlighted the rising cost of living and the monopolies in the food market, subsequently leading to the delay of major price hikes planned by food corporations.
- Our efforts during the consumer protest resulted in the incorporation of key demands, such as curbing further mergers in the food sector and establishing a government committee to assess monopolies incorporated into the recent draft of the Settlements Law.
- Due to our persistent efforts, the Ministry of Justice acknowledged us as an official consumer representative entity, further enabling us to advocate for the public's interest through diversified avenues.
- The Minister of Justice selected Lobby 99 as the consumer entity to participate in decision-making at the Uniform Contracts Tribunal, an entity with the authority to revoke or amend terms detrimental to consumers.
- Through our cooperative efforts with the Competition Authority, steps have been initiated to counteract Shufersal’s attempts to inaugurate additional large branches in regions which the chain already hold a significant market share, effectively putting a stop to its ongoing market expansion.
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- We catalyzed market competition. Through our determined advocacy, we were instrumental in enacting a reform that eliminated distinct Israeli standards on a myriad of products, streamlining their importation.
- We effectively stopped the proposed removal of the VAT exemption for international package orders valued at up to $75.
- The legislation we advocated for, restricting exclusive importers from impeding parallel imports, has successfully advanced through its initial reading.
- We spearheaded the gradual elimination of almost 90% of Israeli-specific standards on basic food products, paving the way for their cost-effective importation.
- We successfully blocked the attempts by exclusive importers to postpone reforms allowing the parallel importation of various lotions, including shampoos and body creams, a step that is anticipated to lower costs.
- We facilitated in passing the amendment to the "Natural Resources Taxation Law" concerning the Dead Sea (based on conclusions of the "Sheshinski Committee 2"), intended to increase the taxes paid by ICL.
- We contributed to the ratification of a law mandating gas companies and ICL to promptly pay taxes on their profits from natural resources, even prior to the commencement of any legal proceedings.
- We successfully overcame Tshuva and the gas monopoly in court. After three years of legal proceedings, the Competition Tribunal endorsed our stance and concluded that the terms set between Israel and Egypt regarding Tshuva's gas monopoly's acquisition of the gas pipeline fail to uphold competitive integrity.
- Our appeal to the Supreme Court demanding that ICL be compelled to pay accumulated water debts worth hundreds of millions of NIS has been scheduled for discussion before a panel of judges. This underscores the seriousness with which the court regards our claims.
- In response to our warnings regarding actual gas shortage in the summer of 2022, the Ministry of Energy decided to restrict gas exports to Egypt and Jordan during this period.
- A team headed by the Director General of the Ministry of Energy adopted our stance, stating that tax benefits should not be extended to gas companies already partners in a major gas reservoir.
- Upon uncovering the absence of public representatives in the Gas Council, in violation of the law, we lodged an appeal calling for the appointment of such representatives. Consequently, a public representative was appointed to the council.
- The Monopolies Committee acceded to our request and declined to grant the gas monopoly a license for exploring shale gas in an additional reservoir.
- We played a key role in advancing the banking reform, which focused on streamlining the process of establishing new banks while incorporating multiple clauses that prioritize the public interest over bank interests.
- Our efforts played a crucial role in promoting a reform that enables customers to switch banks with a simple click, fostering greater competition among banks and offering improved terms and services for consumers.
- We actively assisted in the implementation of the "ZAP Banking" feature within the ‘Open Banking’ reform, enabling easy comparison of various bank offers.
- In a class-action lawsuit filed against the banks for excessive fees charged to small businesses, the bank supervisor, in response to our call, took a firm stance in favor of these businesses.
- We played a role in advancing the law that simplifies the process of creating cooperative banks.
- We played a role in passing a law that regulates the operation of peer-to-peer lending platforms, reducing reliance on traditional banks.
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- In partnership with the media organization "Shakuf," we exposed that numerous local authorities receive donations from corporations, including polluting companies operating within or near their jurisdiction. This lack of transparency goes against the directives of the Ministry of the Interior's Director General.
- The "package deal" we supported has been approved, allocating extra billions of NIS to the public transportation budget in exchange for implementing a "congestion fee" aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the Gush Dan region, commencing in 2024.
- New payment methods for public transportation were implemented, overcoming opposition from "Rav-Ko" lobbyists.
- As a result of a bill we proposed to establish adequate bus stop standards, the Ministry of Transportation allocated tens of millions of NIS to construct shelters at all bus stops nationwide.
- Our collaboration with the Planning Administration resulted in the release of guidelines for urban and neighborhood planning, facilitating the efficient and widespread utilization of public transportation.
- Following decades of opacity surrounding operations by the polluting Europe–Asia Pipeline Company (KATZA) we successfully reduced the extension of the confidentiality period from five years to just one year. This change will allow for a thorough discussion on further reducing confidentiality during this one-year period.
- We secured a commitment from ICL to finance an unlimited guarantee for the remediation of extensive environmental pollution caused by phosphate plants. This action prevents the cost of environmental restoration from falling on the public purse.
- We advocated for renewable energies over gas and effectively incorporated an interim target in the government's decision, motivating the government to make substantial progress in the coming years rather than postponing actions.
- In collaboration with the Securities Authority, we advocated for a procedure that requires publicly traded companies to disclose their environmental initiatives, enabling investors interested in sustainability to refrain from financing polluting firms.
