Transport Minister Miri Regev approved the legal entry of Uber into Israel — a bold reform to open the roads to any licensed driver for hire starting Q1 2026 — prompting warnings of political retaliation and angry denunciations from taxi associations.
Transport Minister Miri Regev has approved a sweeping change to Israel’s passenger-transport rules: for the first time, any driver will be allowed to transport passengers for a fee under an Uber framework, ending the monopoly-style model that limited paid rides to licensed taxi owners holding Ministry-issued permits and “green numbers.” The government plans to roll the service out in the first quarter of 2026.
Supporters hail the move as a necessary modernization — expanding consumer choice, increasing competition, formalizing the gig economy, and bringing new jobs and convenience to citizens across the country. Critics say it upends decades of tightly regulated taxi rules and threatens livelihoods; taxi leaders vowed fierce opposition.
Kfir Ben Zino, chairman of the National Taxi Drivers Association, responded with shocking rhetoric: “I would be underestimating the situation if I said that there is going to be a world war here. Miri Regev, I promise you — in the next primaries you will no longer be the Minister of Transportation.” His words capture the depth of anger in the traditional sector.
Zohar Golan, head of the Taxi Drivers’ Association in the Histadrut’s independent forum, demanded regulatory parity: “If you want to bring order into the sector of passenger transportation by car, then change the law and make full equality also for taxi drivers who are currently required to comply with a long series of laws and regulations, including extensive and expensive training.” Golan accused the move of masking an attempt to legitimize unregulated driving and suggested political motives tied to voter blocs.
Union leaders warn of social fallout and allege the decision could embolden illegal drivers — a charge that adds a combustible political angle to what the government frames as consumer-focused reform.
What’s next: implementation details, licenses, safety standards, training requirements, fare rules and enforcement mechanisms will determine whether the change modernizes Israel’s transport sector or becomes a prolonged political fight. Regev’s decision sets a clear course: embrace innovation, widen access, and force the sector to adapt — but it has also lit a fuse among those who say their livelihoods and long-standing regulations are being swept aside.
