Articles by April, 2025

The 49th Israeli Archaeology Conference, which was set to bring together 80 researchers from across the country, has been postponed indefinitely following political pressure from Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party. Eliyahu demanded the cancellation of Prof. Rafi Greenberg’s participation, citing his critical stance on archaeological excavations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which he argues dispossess Palestinians of their land

On Saturday night, massive demonstrations and rallies took place across Israel. In a powerful demonstration of unity and grief, survivors of Hamas captivity gathered this evening at Kidnappers Square to call for the return of 59 hostages still being held in Gaza. The rally, which marked 547 days of captivity for the remaining hostages, featured emotional speeches from those who were recently freed, including Omar Wenkert, Liri Elbag, and Gadi Mozes, who shared harrowing accounts of their experiences and urged the Israeli government to take action

A new report from the Innovation Authority sheds light on the concerning trend of Israeli high-tech professionals leaving the country, revealing significant changes in the industry over the past two years. The State of Employment in High-Tech 2025 report paints a troubling picture of the industry's struggles, particularly in light of recent geopolitical and economic challenges

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership is under scrutiny after a fresh rocket barrage from Gaza resulted in injuries and damage in southern Israel. This marks the heaviest firing since the resumption of hostilities, with at least three individuals reported injured in Ashkelon. Despite the new violence, Netanyahu's immediate response focused more on internal political tensions than the ongoing threat from Hamas

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

US President Donald Trump, at the conclusion of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday evening, revealed that the US would hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday to address the ongoing nuclear issue. Trump stated that the talks would be held at a high level, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy in resolving the issue. "If the talks do not succeed, Iran will be in great danger because it must not have nuclear weapons," Trump warned. "This is not a complicated formula."

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States is making significant progress in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas, as diplomatic efforts intensify involving Israel and indirect channels with Iran

Hapoel Tel Aviv made history on Friday night by capturing their first-ever European title, winning the EuroCup with a 103–94 victory over Gran Canaria. With this win, the Israeli club not only secured the prestigious trophy but also guaranteed a spot in the EuroLeague next season — the top-tier competition in European basketball. The victory gave Hapoel a 2–0 sweep in the best-of-three final series, which began earlier this week with a convincing road win in Samokov

Israeli national airline El Al announced Monday that the state has officially lifted restrictions on dividend distribution, allowing the company to resume payouts to shareholders on profits from 2025, a year earlier than originally agreed

Hamas released a video on Saturday showing kidnapped IDF soldier Idan Alexander, who has been held in captivity in Gaza for over a year. This marks the second video of Alexander since he was abducted during the October 7 attack. The release comes just hours before Passover celebrations begin, intensifying the pain for his family and supporters