Uber on Wednesday denied Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev's announcement that the company would enter the Israeli market in 2026.
"We have not been involved in any discussions on regulatory reform and have no plans to launch in Israel," a spokesperson for the company said, distancing Uber from the statements made by Regev in recent days.
Speaking for the first time about the decision with Israel Hayom, Regev said: "I don't understand why everyone is so surprised, I've said before that this would happen. Yes, there are taxi drivers who oppose it, but there are also those who want to be both taxi drivers and Uber drivers. At the moment, the matter is being handled with the Finance Ministry, with Israel's citizens and the cost of living in mind. Our goal is to lower ride prices and keep looking forward."
Uber pulled out of the Israeli market in June 2023, citing difficult market conditions and relatively limited demand. The company does not appear to have any intention of returning to Israel in the near future.
