Binyamin Netanyahu has been either the Finance Minister or Prime Minister in 9 of the years since 2003. During this time, even allowing for the global credit crisis, the economy has bounced along at around 4%, an excellent report by most standards.

However, forecasts for both 2014 and 2015 barely rise above 2%. And the budget for next year has been forced to cater for massive defense spending, while not allowing for any tax rises. This has meant a dangerous widening of the deficit. Add in the fact that Europe seems to be heading for a recession, it is unsurprising that few people have confidence in the numbers coming out of Israel’s finance ministry. It appears as if somebody is trying to draw a curtain on Netanyahu’s era of economic triumph.

The strategic and social demands on the government are undeniably heavy this time round. After the war with Gaza, the army needs to replenish its stocks. Response to the threats from Iran and from the northern border must to be financed, now. Communities in the south of the country have been promised vast improvements to the infrastructure. etc, etc.

In parallel, Israel still has to play to the rules of coalitions politics. Thus, Yair Lapid, the Minister of Finance, needs to find the means to support other ministers, who belong to his political party. The education ministry is one such prime candidate for extra sums.

Given all these pressures, is there any spare fat? Actually yes. It is one of those open secrets that not even the whole of the Mossad can cover up.

First, the government should stop protecting the distributors of agricultural produce. For decades, middle men have thrived. They are accustomed to raking in large mark ups, while imports are tariffed out of the market. Who suffers? The consumers, who nedlessly pay thousands of extra shekels every year.

Second, the government should stop protecting public sector corporations, such as the electricity company and the post office. Both are bitterly overstaffed, and the former even allows employees free unlimited power. The latter has seen a fifty percent drop in direct profit in the three years to 2013.

Third, the government should stop empowering …… civil servants. I have several clients, who want to start importing but are smothered out by red tape. I know of a class unique European winery that has sales throughout the continent, but cannot find a way through the paperwork of Israel’s Ministry of Health. Hand in a product for testing to the Institute of Standards and you have to wait an amazingly long 12 weeks. As for any potential manufacturer of food or drink, it is an accepted fact that you have to start production and then seek necessary approvals – in other words, you have to break the law in order to succeed!

With little new to talk about re the Palestinians or Iran, news in Israel has focused this month on the price of basic goods. Why is it cheaper to buy a loaf of bread in England and why can an Israeli-made yogurt (Milky) cost less when purchased in central Berlin?

It is simple. As the case studies above reveal, it is all about vested interests.

Vested interests keep the prices of distribution in Israel high, to the detriment of the consumer. However, these same groups are often the backbone of some the country’s top politicians. Don’t believe me? Look how the tentacles of the port at Ashdod -management and unions – infect the police and local commercial interests, as importers and exporters pay out excessive rates. And why has somebody only just woken up that one trade union official and now member of the Kenesset has been on on-going official leave for the past 15 years?

It is expected of politicians that they enter the profession in order to change what is wrong. This is doubly true of an experienced Prime Minister. In Netanyahu, the country has an officer in the service of the public, who understands economics and has a honest record to protect.

So let’s ask the question: Is Netanyahu too scared of or too beholden towards the various power blocks? Or is he just so cut off and removed from his electorate that he remains content just to slurp his own Milky, whatever it has cost his housekeeping (paid for by the electorate)? Actions not meaningless rhetoric are what are demanded Mr Prime Minister.