After 35 years, Israel finally approves E1 housing plan east of Jerusalem After decades of delays amid international pressure to scrap the plan, Israel grants final approval for 3,401 housing units in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim - part of a project that could block Palestinian continuity between Judea and Samaria. January 7, 2026
Arab bus driver rams into ultra-Orthodox protesters, kills teen National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says police investigating 'all possible avenues.' January 7, 2026
Knesset honors bereaved hostage families who supported government during Gaza war Government ministers paid tribute to members of the Tikva and Gvura forums, groups that consistently opposed negotiated exchanges with Hamas that would have freed Palestinian security prisoners in return for phased hostage releases. January 7, 2026
Israel keeps Rafah Crossing closed until Hamas returns remains of final Israeli held in Gaza Even if Rafah eventually reopens, Israeli media indicates it would be primarily for the movement of people and not a free-flow aid pipeline. January 6, 2026
Poll: Most Jewish Israelis view country as safer than abroad Most Jewish Israelis support government assistance to Jews abroad. January 6, 2026
Israeli schools were unprepared for war emergency despite COVID lessons The audit found that 39 percent of schools reported that not all students could reach protected spaces within the warning time when rockets were fired. January 6, 2026
Israeli technology could drive Venezuela’s rebuilding, expats say 'Israeli technology could play a major role. People can go weeks without water, electricity, or gas. That’s where Israel can help.' January 6, 2026
IDF ‘deeply values’ its 7,000 ‘lone soldiers’ The length of their service depends on both age and the type of program in which they enlist and can range from shortened service to full military service for both men and women. January 6, 2026
Laying out plan to oust Netanyahu, Arab party seeks Jewish candidates and voters Arab lawmakers planning to oust Netanyahu and form a new "change" government with Bennett at the helm seek to increase Arab turnout and win over Jewish voters by including Jewish candidates. January 6, 2026
Record number of haredim enlist in IDF The December-January cohort includes 230 combat recruits and 307 for combat support units. January 6, 2026
Bennett vows sweeping benefits for reservists if elected His planned law includes NIS 1 million toward a first home, free daycare and steep utility discounts. January 6, 2026
Israeli team uncovers how breast cancer spreads to brain The findings may help doctors identify high-risk patients earlier and tailor treatment accordingly. January 6, 2026
Israeli fencers win gold in Abu Dhabi and Switzerland Team Israel also congratulated Noa Szőllős on Monday after she earned Israel’s first-ever World Cup points in alpine skiing. January 6, 2026
Abraham Accords partners, Israel and Morocco, begin new phase of defense coordination The IDF said the panel addressed how both militaries assess evolving threats and align planning concepts, with the goal of improving interoperability and mutual understanding. January 5, 2026
Imprisoned arch-terrorist must be executed, says Israeli minister According to an October poll by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, Barghouti would win in a landslide if a vote for the leadership of the Palestinian Authority were held today. January 5, 2026
Court hands down decades-long sentences in Jerusalem stabbing attack The three Bethlehem attackers had sought “martyrdom” in the July 2023 assault. January 5, 2026
Arkia launches first-ever flight from Tel Aviv to Vietnam Fares to Vietnam will begin at $699 each way in economy class, while flights to Bangkok—where it is competing head-on against Israeli flag carrier El Al—start at $499 one-way. January 5, 2026
Israeli minister: Hezbollah trying to ‘take control’ of Kiryat Shmona via home purchases Wasserlauf asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday to convene a discussion on property tax benefits for business owners in Kiryat Shmona, citing the absence of a serving interior minister. January 5, 2026
Second Iranian-linked spy caught surveilling former Israeli PM’s house Israeli man indicted on espionage charges after he spied on the home of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on behalf of Iran. January 5, 2026
Deni Avdija surges in NBA All-Star fan voting Avdija is averaging 25.7 points, 7.1 assists and 7.3 rebounds so far this season, hitting significant milestones along the way, including on Dec. 5, when he became Israel’s all-time NBA scoring leader. January 5, 2026
Israeli security forces launch manhunt after ramming attack of 13-year-old near Ateret The victim was reported to be in good condition after receiving treatment at the scene and during transport. The Magen David Adom later confirmed the injury was minor. January 4, 2026
Dagan: Rename COGAT to Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea and Samaria The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories is a unit of the Defense Ministry that oversees civilian and humanitarian affairs and liaises with Palestinians. January 4, 2026
Former Shin Bet informant gets life sentence for killing elderly Holocaust survivor The Tel Aviv District Court also ordered Shalhoub to pay NIS 258,000 ($81,000) to Lipovsky’s family. January 4, 2026
Israel’s Peru envoy named nonresident ambassador to Bolivia Sa’ar spoke with Bolivia’s center-right president, Rodrigo Paz, the day after his election in October, in one of the new leader’s first diplomatic calls. January 4, 2026
Israeli professor pushes petition calling for arch-terrorist’s release – and accidentally emails it to students University professor compares Palestinian terrorist who masterminded deadly attacks on Israelis to Nelson Mandela, pushes petition calling on President Trump to pressure Israel to free him. January 4, 2026
Suspect killed in southern Israel police raid as Ben-Gvir backs officers 'The days when police were endangered and harmed without a response are over.' January 4, 2026
‘Israel was always on our side,’ Somaliland envoy in Washington says Somaliland has created relative security and stability in the territory it governs, and al-Shabaab has virtually no presence there. January 3, 2026
Mammoth cave found near Ofra in Samaria At present, the cave is only accessible by rappelling down a narrow shaft and then climbing up a rope, making it hard to reach even for experienced professionals. January 3, 2026
Landmark AI breast-cancer screening to be launched in Israel this year Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with most cases occurring in patients with no identifiable family history or specific gene mutation. January 2, 2026
Israeli hostage released from 2 years of captivity in Gaza struggles to rebuild his life Since his return, Kalfon is getting used to a new life, one where he is famous after his name and face were broadcast across Israel during the fight to release the hostages. January 2, 2026
Ben-Gvir proposes using crocodiles to prevent imprisoned terrorists from escaping The concept draws inspiration from a prison facility in Florida that has been cited by President Donald Trump, where surrounding wetlands and alligators act as a natural deterrent against escape. January 1, 2026
Israeli towns along Gaza border register growth since Oct. 7 It added that in eight out of the 13 communities that were hit the hardest, high return rates were recorded: Kibbutzim Ein HaShlosha, Kerem Shalom, Nahal Oz, Netiv HaAsara, Nirim, Nir Yitzhak, Re’im and Sufa. January 1, 2026
Hostages Forum closes Tel Aviv offices amid call to return body of Ran Gvili Captivity survivor Eitan Horn arrived at the group’s offices on Wednesday and thanked Check Point founder Gil Shwed for allowing the workers, volunteers, and hostages’ families to occupy the building for more than two years. January 1, 2026
Lone soldier from the US found dead in southern Israel, 2025 IDF fallen toll rises to 152 Goldberg made aliyah and enlisted as a lone soldier, building a life in the Negev and becoming part of a tight-knit local community. January 1, 2026
37 agencies now banned from Gaza supplied just 1% of aid, Israel says The licenses were revoked after they failed to provide employee documentation. January 1, 2026
Drone-smuggling ring uncovered in southern Israel: four arrested Investigators determined that the suspects monitored IDF radio communications during the smuggling operations. January 1, 2026
Israel’s population tops 10.17 million in 2025 182,000 babies were born in Israel in 2025, with nearly 70,000 Israeli citizens emigrating, compared to just 44,000 who immigrated to the Jewish state. January 1, 2026
Knesset approves law commemorating Israel’s Moroccan Jewish heritage The legislation calls for schools across Israel to teach about the heritage of Moroccan Jewry and for a special session to be held in the Knesset each year. January 1, 2026
Nvidia in advanced talks to buy Israel’s AI21 labs for up to $3 billion, report says Nvidia, which has become the most valuable company in history at more than $4 trillion, is planning a large expansion in Israel with a new R&D campus of up to 10,000 employees in Kiryat Tivon. January 1, 2026
Ambulance every 22 seconds: Israel logs more than 1.38 million emergency call-outs as road deaths rise and blood supplies tighten MDA collected 263,945 blood units across 8,859 drives in 2025, including more than 44,000 first-time donors. January 1, 2026
Israeli High Court halts comptroller’s probe of Oct. 7 massacre Petitioners warned that allowing the comptroller to investigate such issues could prejudice future inquiries and infringe on due process rights. December 31, 2025
Arab Muslim makes history as Israel Border Police unit commander Asadi heads a household steeped in uniformed service: Two of his children are prison guards in the Israel Prison Service and a third previously served in the Border Police. December 31, 2025
One in three Israelis seek mental health support after two years of war Israelis have also turned increasingly to self-medication, with purchases of over-the-counter sleep and calming medications rising 14 percent. December 31, 2025
1.3 million tourists visited Israel in 2025 Fifty percent of the tourists visiting Israel over the past year were Jewish and 9% were Christian pilgrims, according to initial annual figures. December 31, 2025
IDF intercepts smuggling drone carrying M16 rifles The drone was found to be carrying 20 M-16 rifles, along with additional weapons components. December 31, 2025
Israel approves plans to rebuild Samaria town evacuated in 2005 disengagement Plan to reestablish Israeli town in Samaria that was evacuated during the Gaza Disengagement approved, paving way for its resettlement and expansion. December 31, 2025
IDF releases grim casualty figures after war-filled year 151 fallen IDF soldiers were added this year—a painful and difficult number. December 31, 2025
Israel moves to recognize service-linked suicides as fallen soldiers after military discharge A Knesset Research & Information Center paper found 124 IDF suicides from 2017 through July 2025, noting a significant increase in the number and share of reservists in recent years. December 31, 2025
Israel’s population growth rate falls to all-time low For the first time ever, Israel's annual growth rate falls before 1%, amid declining birth rates, a rise in the number of deaths, and high levels of negative migration. December 31, 2025
‘Defense Minister’s Shield’ honors supporters of reservists The IDF Chief of Staff emphasized that Israel’s security depends not only on military strength but also on caring for soldiers’ human needs during and after service. December 31, 2025
The year in review: Israel at a turning point Despite political strains and wartime pressure, the government moved closer to completing a full term—something that has not happened in more than three decades. December 30, 2025
Shekel nears 4-year high at 3.17 per dollar The dollar index has declined 1.5% since early December, but the shekel has strengthened more sharply. December 30, 2025
Tel Aviv metro project faces major delays and cost overruns, state comptroller warns Preliminary estimates suggest the project cost may exceed the approved budget by up to NIS 12 billion ($3.77 billion). December 30, 2025
Netanyahu holds ‘warm’ conversation with Vance Vance claimed in a Dec. 21 interview that concerns about antisemitism are sometimes raised as a way to avoid discussing 'a real backlash to a consensus view in American foreign policy.' December 30, 2025
Tens of thousands of Palestinians infiltrate Israel daily, lawmaker warns Lawmaker warns that the incidents captured on film are just the tip of the iceberg. December 30, 2025
Knesset tightens restrictions on UNRWA operations in Israel A new law cuts utilities, banking and communications to all facilities linked to the agency. December 30, 2025
Smotrich urges sweeping counterterror measures amid surge in attacks Smotrich also called for a crackdown on anti-Israel incitement, accusing the Palestinian Authority of encouraging terror and violence through its education system. December 30, 2025
Trump says he would support Israeli strike on Iranian missiles, nuclear sites It was not clear if Trump meant that he would support a strike under current conditions but suggested that any potential military action would be a response to Iranian actions. December 29, 2025
Israel to allow daytime Jewish prayer at Joseph’s Tomb for first time in 25 years Shechem is located in Area A under the administrative and security jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority. December 29, 2025
North American aliyah surges in 2025 as post–Oct. 7 solidarity drives thousands to Israel Aliyah application files opened through Nefesh B’Nefesh climbed from 8,943 in 2022 to 13,389 in 2025. December 29, 2025
