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The scope of the use of digital wallets and smart watches reached a peak of NIS 3.2 billion in May: 2.7 times compared to its scope in May 2022, according to SBA data, which develops and manages the national credit card payment system in Israel. Two years ago, in May 2021, Apple Pay entered Israel and was the first international company operating in the field. In the months before that, a number of local digital wallets were operating, but the scope of use was only tens of millions, and when Apple Pay was introduced, the scope of use was only 150 million shekels

The Ministry of Finance announced that agreements in principle had been received for Intel to build a new factory in Kiryat Gat with an investment of 25 billion dollars. According to the ministry's statement, Intel "is expected to hire thousands of additional workers in Kiryat Gat. It was agreed to significantly increase the tax rate that the company will pay to the state from 5% today to 7.5%. As part of its commitments, Intel is expected to finish the investment and start the plant's operations by 2027 and continue to operate it until at least 2035." Intel will receive a grant of 3...

"The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the legal reform constitutes a significant negative risk to Israel's economy." This is what the report of the International Monetary Fund claims. According to the organization's economists, in the case of a pessimistic scenario surrounding the reform, growth per capita is expected to be reduced to only 1.5%-1.6% in the next two years (2023-2024), which reflects negative economic growth per capita (the natural increase in Israel stands at 2%). According to the report, "Protests and social conflicts have accompanied the economic uncertainty, which, if it...

In a secret election, the Knesset elected opposition representative MK Karin Elharar (Yesh Atid) as a member of the committee for selecting judges. The plenary rejected the candidacy of MK Tali Gottlieb (Likud). Since Gottlieb was the only candidate of the coalition, she was left without a representative in the committee, which means that in 30 days the Knesset will convene again to elect a representative of the coalition

Marking the prices on stickers on products, which the marketing chains were required to do about 25 years ago, is one of their most hated obligations. Again and again, the networks tried to cancel the obligation, which they claim imposes heavy costs on them, and does not exist in any country except Israel. Now, it seems that the pressure of the networks is going to bear fruit. Next week, a memorandum of law (a draft of a government bill) will be published for public comment that will propose to cancel the labeling on the stickers, provided that the price appears on the shelf, next to the...

Egged announced that it won the public transportation cluster in the area surrounding West Jerusalem. The shares of the Keystone Fund, the controlling shareholder of Aged (60%), rose by 1.2% with the publication of the announcement on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Egged won the Eshkol to operate intercity bus lines between Bnei Brak and Jerusalem, Rosh Ha'Ein to Jerusalem, Petah Tikva to Jerusalem and urban and suburban lines in the western outskirts of Jerusalem (Mebasheret Zion and Givat Ze'ev). The company estimates that the revenues resulting from the operation of the cluster will reach...

The Israeli Viola Group, which invests in about 150 startups, is launching a center in Abu Dhabi that will employ development workers for technology companies from around the world. This is an unusual step for Viola, whose main activity is the company's venture capital funds. The project is a collaboration of the group together with two local entities: ADIO, the Emirati Ministry of Investment, and G42, a technology company from Abu Dhabi, which deals in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Both entities already employ hundreds of technological workers in the region, and they are...

The Knesset plenum approved the extension of the state of emergency that was declared in Israel upon the establishment of the state, and has been extended repeatedly since then. With the declaration of a state of emergency in 1948, it was not precisely defined what such a state was. Extending its validity has two main consequences: authorizing the government to establish emergency regulations that can override Knesset legislation; and the authorization of the Knesset to enact laws that depend on the validity of a state of emergency

Bank Leumi announces what it defines as a "unique and groundbreaking consumer move in the banking system": private customers with a current account at Leumi will enjoy an annual interest rate of 1% on the plus balance in the account - a significant benefit that does not exist in any other bank in Israel. The interest will be paid on a current account balance of up to NIS 10,000 to salary transfer customers with a mortgage at Leumi, or to salary transfer customers with a monthly transaction turnover of at least NIS 3,000 on a Leumi credit card or to salary transfer customers with a...

Legal advisor to the government Gali Beharve-Miara informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he should avoid involvement in initiatives to change the judicial system. According to a letter sent by the consultant, "there is a reasonable fear of a conflict of interest" between Netanyahu's personal affairs, relating to the trial in which he is accused, "and essential components of the initiatives". According to her, Netanyahu should also avoid "giving direct or indirect guidance through other parties when it comes to promoting the initiatives", and according to her, this also applies to...