Israeli dairy farmers protest Smotrich’s reform at Knesset | The Jerusalem Post

Local dairy farmers journeyed to Jerusalem on Wednesday, demonstrating on highways and at the Knesset against the advancement of sweeping reforms to the dairy sector that have been proposed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The protest resulted in clashes outside the Knesset and the nearby Finance Ministry between police and demonstrators. A large statue of a cow was thrown across the ground at the entrance to the Finance Ministry. Police established a barrier at the entrance, which was subsequently breached, leading to altercations. The demonstration initially began with the halting of traffic on Highway 1 at the entrance to Jerusalem in the morning. Footage showed protesters pouring milk onto the streets. Farmers arrived in Jerusalem by tractor and other agricultural vehicles. Despite the protest, farmers resumed supplying milk to dairies on Wednesday morning after they had stopped the flow on Tuesday, causing milk shortages. Agriculture and Raw Food Security Minister Avi Dichter (Likud) called on the farmers to end the strike late on Tuesday evening, despite being an outspoken critic of the reform. The dairy reform is set to introduce sweeping changes to the sector, aiming to reduce the price of milk and cheese by breaking up monopolies that dominate the market. The reform has raised concerns over shutdowns and harm to hundreds of local dairy farms. It proposes opening up the market to cheaper imports by abolishing protective tariffs. Smotrich admitted that the reform would harm small local dairy producers but that they would receive a compensation package. Rather than advancing the dairy reform as a standalone bill, it was included in a series of bills as part of the 2026 state budget, which passed its first Knesset reading last week. By law, the state budget must be passed by the end of March in all three readings, or else the Knesset will automatically dissolve, and early elections will be called.