Articles by March, 2025

Border controllers of the Population Authority within the Ministry of the Interior announced on Friday that they would strike at border crossings, including Ben Gurion Airport, in response to a salary dispute. However, within two hours, the strike was canceled after the Histadrut, Israel's trade union, reached an agreement with the state to resolve the issue

Hamas rejected Israel's proposal to extend the first phase of the ongoing deal, which is currently in place for the release of hostages, according to a statement from the group's spokesman today (Saturday). The organization also made it clear that no negotiations are underway for the second phase of the agreement, which is set to address further hostages and other key issues

In a significant shift from previous statements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed this evening that his military secretariat had received a message on the night of October 7th indicating that Hamas was preparing for an attack. This is the first time Netanyahu has acknowledged the existence of such a message, contradicting earlier claims from his office that no warning signs had reached them

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Israeli-Palestinian film No Other Country won the Oscar for Best Documentary at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday night. The documentary, which has sparked significant controversy in Israel, presents a stark and powerful portrayal of life under Israeli occupation in the Masafar Yatta community in the southern Hebron Hills

According to data released today by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the average salary for an employee position in Israel increased by 5.1% in 2024, reaching NIS 13,514 compared to NIS 12,863 in 2023. This growth significantly outpaced the consumer price index (CPI), which rose by 3.2% during the same period. However, this wage increase also has a downside for National Insurance benefits, which are linked to the CPI and are expected to be eroded by approximately 2%

In a significant move for the Israeli medical technology sector, Boston Scientific has acquired the remaining 90% of shares in the Rehovot-based startup SoniVie for $360 million. The deal may increase by an additional $180 million depending on the achievement of certain milestones, a common arrangement in acquisitions within the field. This acquisition comes after Boston Scientific already owned a 10% stake in SoniVie

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin has initiated a highly controversial process in an attempt to dismiss the government’s legal advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara, accusing her of politicizing her position. In an 85-page document submitted to the government, Levin outlines his accusations, labeling Baharav-Miara’s actions as part of a broader strategy to undermine the current government and obstruct its policies

A delegation of eight survivors from the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza visited Washington on Wednesday to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. During the emotionally charged meeting, Naama Levy, one of the survivors, told Trump, "You are the hope of the hostages," expressing her gratitude for his continued efforts to secure their release

Hamas released a distressing video today (Friday) showing Matan Angrest, an Israeli soldier kidnapped during the October 7 attack. The video, which Matan’s family confirmed was made with their approval, shows the soldier in visibly poor health. His family described him as "discharged and despondent," with signs of physical abuse, including a non-functioning right hand, facial asymmetry, and a broken nose. The family believes these injuries are the result of interrogations and torture

Discount Bank reported a modest increase in net profit for 2024, reaching NIS 4.3 billion, up 2.1% from NIS 4.2 billion in 2023. However, the bank's return on equity (ROE) declined to 14.2%, compared to 15.7% in the previous year. Despite the slight dip in ROE, the bank posted solid results, driven by strong performance in the fourth quarter