ISRAEL’S high cost of living is set to dominate a March 17 election that could shake up Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, with voter anger symbolized by an overpriced dessert.

    In a country where the influence of small parties makes elections notoriously hard to forecast, many experts still expect rightwing leader Netanyahu to keep power. But the focus on domestic policy and economics, rather than on security and Palestinian peacemaking, means the outcome is even more difficult to predict than usual.

    Some Israelis are speaking of an election that could sweep away the familiar political order, in which left and right have jockeyed for power by appeasing interest groups while doing little to reform an economy dominated by big conglomerates.

    “I now believe we have a chance to exile our failed leaders. We have a moment to change the direction Israel goes,” said Naor Narkis, a 25-year-old former intelligence officer who became an unlikely overnight national celebrity when he posted a photo on Facebook showing a chocolate pudding in Berlin selling for a third of the price of a similar “Milky” dessert in Israel.

    The cost of living has been at the top of the domestic political agenda since 2011, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in protests sparked by the rising price of cottage cheese, a popular staple.

    In the last election 18 months ago, the issue helped propel TV personality and political newcomer Yair Lapid to the post of finance minister after his party placed second.

    But since then, many Israelis say Lapid failed to deliver on promises of economic reform, and voters say they are now more serious about holding politicians accountable. Polls predict Lapid’s party will shrink to about half its size.

    Israel is a rich country, but its prices are higher and wages are lower than in the United States and Western Europe. Since becoming a star over the “Milky” pudding, Narkis has argued that unless Israel becomes more affordable, young Israelis “will just leave.”

    After military service, he asked himself, “‘What does this country have to offer me?’ The answer was not a lot. Even if you work here in a full time job you are not able to buy an apartment,” he said.(SD-Agencies)