Hundreds of business owners from across the country arrived at the Knesset throughout Monday to protest Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s order to raise the VAT exemption ceiling on personal imports to $150 from $75. The government approved Smotrich’s order on Sunday, but it still must be finalized through a vote in the Knesset plenum, scheduled for late Monday night. The protesting business owners participated in various committee meetings throughout Monday to encourage Knesset members to vote against the order. Business owners attended his committee meeting in demonstration on Monday. It’s Purim, and we can’t sell costumes; everything comes from AliExpress,” the business owner noted.

Source: Ethiopian News February 23, 2026 14:37 UTC