Banking

The Bank of Israel’s Monetary Committee has decided to keep the interest rate unchanged at 4.5%, marking the tenth consecutive month that the rate has remained at this elevated level. The decision aligns with the expectations of most analysts. This is despite a single interest rate cut in January 2024, from 4.75% to 4.5%. Additionally, the bank has revised its growth forecasts for 2025 and 2026, lowering its predictions by 0.5%, now forecasting 3.5% and 4% growth, respectively

A Houthi drone exploded in Eilat on Wednesday afternoon, injuring at least 20 people — two of them seriously — in the third attack on the southern resort city in two weeks. Despite the strike, Israelis quickly returned to the malls and the promenade, which appeared busy just hours after the blast

Israel’s banking system is closing an unusually strong third quarter, with Bank Leumi and Mizrahi Tefahot—two of the country’s largest financial institutions—reporting a combined net profit exceeding NIS 4 billion. Leumi delivered a sharp double-digit rise in profitability, while Mizrahi Tefahot strengthened its leadership in credit and mortgages. Both banks also announced significant dividend distributions, reinforcing investor confidence