Israelis, avid cigarette smokers, were fighting withdrawal symptoms today. There were no smokes to be had.
The Dubek company, which enjoys a national monopoly on tobacco products, shut down all of its plants because of the government’s price freeze. According to Dubek, it will lose less money halting production than by selling at unprofitable prices.
While Dubek is willing to market the inventory at hand, it is prevented by a strike of its distributors who demand higher commissions from the tobacco company. Cigarette-starved Israelis, confronted by empty shelves seem to be deriving little consolation from the fact that by doing without they may live longer.
As the Year Turns, Support the Journalism You Trust. JTA covers the stories shaping Jewish life around the world — with the depth this moment calls for. As you reflect on the year ahead, consider a gift that keeps independent Jewish journalism strong.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
