Articles

As the fifth week of fighting continues in the region, Israel is facing a high level of uncertainty on the military front, while the home front shows signs of adjusting to a new normal. Despite the ongoing conflict, there has been a notable increase in credit card purchases in the past two weeks, although they remain approximately 20% lower than pre-war levels. Traffic on the roads has also resumed with a partial return to school

Palo Alto's research unit has brought to light an alarming increase in cyber attacks orchestrated by the Iranian hacker group known as "Agrius" against Israeli targets. These attacks have intensified since the onset of hostilities. The Agrius group, which has been operating since 2020, has been actively engaged in stealing sensitive information and causing damage by deleting data, ultimately affecting innocent Israeli citizens

In a significant and unexpected turn of events, Gali Baharev Miara, the legal advisor for the Israeli government and the chief prosecutor, has taken the unprecedented step of freezing all coalition funds yet to be transferred. This decision, announced on Tuesday evening, mandates that all these funds be redirected toward the country's war efforts.

National Insurance Institute has reported an alarming increase in unemployment benefit applications since the beginning of November, mirroring figures reminiscent of the COVID-19 crisis. A total of 84,618 applicants have sought assistance from the National Insurance Institute due to the ongoing hostilities. Of these, 61,500 individuals have been forced into involuntary unemployment, while 23,118 cited other reasons such as layoffs

In a remarkable performance during the third quarter of 2023, Teva Pharmaceuticals, under the leadership of CEO Richard Francis, reported impressive growth and exceeded revenue forecasts. The pharmaceutical giant showcased a 7% increase in revenues compared to the same period in 2022, reaching a total of $3.85 billion

Education Minister Yoav Kish has declared a complete return to routine in the education system for schools located in green areas with no significant restrictions from the Home Front Command. Minister Kish expressed confidence that, barring any deterioration in the situation, the education system will resume normal operations starting next Sunday in these green zones

In a crucial move to finance ongoing military operations, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced the addition of NIS 13.5 billion to the 2023 budget. The decision, revealed in a letter to the Ministry of Finance, outlines a strategy to redirect a portion of coalition funds to support the war effort

At the International Monetary Fund's annual research conference, Bank of Israel Governor Yaron delivered an optimistic message about the country's economic strength and resilience in the face of ongoing challenges. Governor Yaron asserted that the Israeli economy possesses robust foundations and has historically demonstrated the ability to recover from difficult times. Despite the prevailing skepticism among economists regarding the pace of recovery, Yaron remained confident in a swift return to prosperity

In a powerful display of solidarity, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to rally for the release of individuals held captive by Hamas. Emotions ran high as family members, including Maayan Zim, whose daughter Dafna is among the abducted, took the stage to share their anguish and frustration

In a landmark move, the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has officially signed a contract for the sale of Israel's cutting-edge air defense system, "Kele David" (Magic Wand), to Finland. The deal, valued at 317 million euros (1.3 billion shekels), marks the first international sale of Rafael's highly acclaimed missile defense system