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Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Approximately 750 military reservists are expected to participate in programs for artificial intelligence leaders in the high-tech industry organized by Israel’s Innovation Authority, Department for Demobilized and Reserve Soldiers at the Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Labor.

“This is a move aimed at strengthening reservists and discharged soldiers who played a central role in the national effort, reducing knowledge and experience gaps that arose following prolonged absence from work during the war, and training them to lead in the adoption and integration of artificial intelligence tools in research and development processes in organizations,” said the Ministry of Labor.

The move, in which six programs on the subject of artificial intelligence were selected, is intended to strengthen reservists and allow them to bridge knowledge gaps created by prolonged absence from work, especially in the rapidly developing fields of artificial intelligence.
Providing up-to-date and practical tools will allow reservists in core technological roles to lead innovative projects, streamline processes, and strengthen the resilience and productivity of Israeli high-tech.

It is also intended to reduce the employment concerns reported among experienced workers in light of the accelerated penetration of artificial intelligence tools into the labor market.

The Prime Minister’s Office, this evening:
 
Israel has joined the Pax Silica Initiative, a strategic move led by the United States and unveiled during an international conference attended by nine leading countries in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and advanced industries. The conference, which took place yesterday (Friday) in Washington, was attended by representatives from Israel, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the UAE, and Australia – all core nations of the global technology and AI industry.
 
Representing the State of Israel at the conference, at the directive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were National Economic Council Director and Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, Prof. Avi Simhon, along with the Chief Economist at the Finance Ministry, Dr. Shmuel Abramson, and Head of the National AI Directorate, Erez Eskel.
 
The initiative aims to build a secure, resilient, and innovative technological ecosystem across the entire value chain – from the extraction of critical minerals and energy, through advanced manufacturing and chips, to AI infrastructure, data centers, and logistics. It seeks to consolidate a new, sustainable economic order for the age of AI and ensure shared prosperity for the member countries.
 
National Economic Council Director Prof. Avi Simhon: 
 
“Israel‘s joining of the US-led Pax Silica Initiative is a badge of honor for the State of Israel and the Israeli high-tech industry, which is considered a global leader in innovation and Artificial Intelligence. Together with our international partners, we are working to fortify the global AI industry, strengthen the resilience of supply chains, and ensure the economic and security prosperity of the participating countries and their citizens.”
 
The participants committed to working in partnership in areas such as:
 
* Strengthening the supply chains of critical minerals, chips, and energy.
 
* Establishing joint ventures and shared strategic investments.
 
* Protecting sensitive technologies and infrastructures from access or control by hostile nations.
 
* Establishing a trustworthy technological ecosystem – including ICT systems, fiber optic cables, data centers, foundational models, and AI applications.
 
The Pax Silica Initiative serves as a new international framework designed to unite the leading technology nations and jointly establish the economic order of the Artificial Intelligence era.
 
The name “Pax Silica” draws inspiration from the Latin term Pax – peace, stability, and enduring prosperity – and the compound Silica, which forms the basis for silicon, the chemical element essential for producing the chips required for the age of AI.

The prime minister‘s Office, this afternoon:

The Prime Minister’s Office announces the appointment of Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal as Director of the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Directorate, which will be established within the Prime Minister’s Office.

The establishment of the Directorate, which has been led and initiated by prime ministerBenjamin Netanyahu, is intended to transform the State of Israel into a global AI superpower. The National Directorate will lead the formulation and implementation of the national strategy in the field, serving as a central arm for promoting innovation, regulation, infrastructure, and research, while strengthening Israel’s status in the international arena.

The Directorate will formulate the national plan for accelerating AI, while providing professional guidance and consultation to government ministries and auxiliary units on regulatory matters. The Directorate will also work to establish advanced infrastructure, including energy and research complexes for AI, and to advance ‘supercomputing’ capabilities under Israeli sovereignty.

The National Directorate will coordinate and promote international cooperation, as part of the effort to ensure Israel’s place at the global forefront of the AI field.

Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Erez Askal brings with him rich experience from the defense establishment, including as Head of the Digital Transformation Directorate in the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, Commander of the Visual Intelligence Unit 9900, and in intelligence roles in the Air Force and the Research Division of the Military Intelligence Directorate.

Jerusalem, 22 July, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Education and the Innovation Authority launched “Regulatory Sandbox,” a first-of-its-kind experimental environment that will allow Israeli technology companies to test and implement innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence within the public education system, with regulatory guidance and while providing designated incentives for experimentation, with a budget of 10 million Shekels ($2.98 million).

Following the launch, a “call for applications” was published this week inviting Israeli technology companies and organizations to apply for participation in “regulatory sandbox”. It is aimed at companies and groundbreaking initiatives that offer systemic solutions for personalized learning, with broad application potential in the education system, while meeting standards of privacy, information security, data analysis and user experience.

The selected projects will benefit from the opportunity to develop and learn in a real, data-based environment, under unique conditions that are not currently available to the private market.

The companies selected to participate in the program will benefit from access to a test field in schools, regulatory guidance, regulatory relief tailored to the needs of the experiment, and financial assistance from the Innovation Authority.

“But this is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Education Minister Yoav Kish. “The decision to bring the best high-tech minds into schools is a strategic move: to give every child in Israel the tools that will determine their place in the new world. We do not react to the future – we shape it. This is a profound and unprecedented educational revolution – one that merges a national vision, advanced pedagogy and world-leading technological capabilities.”

The signing was held at Blair House, in Washington, with the participation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, together with the ambassadors of both countries – Mike Huckabee and Yechiel Leiter.

The agreement, which was formulated under the leadership of Energy Secretary Eli Cohen, is designed to advance cooperation in applying AI to strengthening the energy grids in Israel and the US, and to encourage research, innovation and the development of joint policies. Under the agreement, regional projects, including IMEC and the Abraham Accords, will be advanced, and a working group on cooperation regarding standards and optimal practices, as well as safe digital infrastructure for embedding AI in the energy economies.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is a party to the agreement along with the Prime Minister’s Office and the US Department of Energy, the US Department of the Interior and the White House National Energy Dominance Council.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: “Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary, ambassadors, the future belongs to those who innovate. America and Israel are the prime innovation nations on the planet. AI is the thrust of innovation now and will create unbelievable things in the future. It’s both challenging, because there could be bad things in it, but there could be unimaginable good things. I think we can lead this. This day will be remembered. Not every signing ceremony is as significant as this. This is very significant.
I want to thank you and President Trump for the incredible cooperation and friendship that has been unmatched and will yield great things for America and Israel. It will make both of us greater, again.”

US Secretary of the Interior Burgum: “Before we begin, I do want to say about this historic agreement. There has been such incredible collaboration between the United States and Israel demonstrated over the last month. The planning, the execution, the world has never seen anything like it, truly eliminating one of the existential threats that was facing the entire world, not just Israel and the United States. So again, congratulations.
This step takes us into the future around collaboration because we know that defense would not be working without AI, but all the incredible technological leadership, the great entrepreneurship, the incredible startup community that’s strong and vibrant in Israel, all of this bodes well for the future. The first kind of agreement that Chris and I have signed with any country is this one and we think it’s a great place to start.”

US Secretary of Energy Wright: “Honored to partner with you and the tremendous people of Israel, as you say, innovators, technology innovators, cutting-edge business folks and strong, proud country, and been a great American ally for a long time and I think our partnership has never been tighter, never been stronger than it is today.”

The State of Israel and the US, today (Tuesday, 8 July 2025), signed an MOU on advancing cooperation in energy and artificial intelligence (AI).

The signing was held at Blair House, in Washington, with the participation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, together with the ambassadors of both countries – Mike Huckabee and Yechiel Leiter.

The agreement, which was formulated under the leadership of Energy Secretary Eli Cohen, is designed to advance cooperation in applying AI to strengthening the energy grids in Israel and the US, and to encourage research, innovation and the development of joint policies. Under the agreement, regional projects, including IMEC and the Abraham Accords, will be advanced, and a working group on cooperation regarding standards and optimal practices, as well as safe digital infrastructure for embedding AI in the energy economies.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is a party to the agreement along with the Prime Minister’s Office and the US Department of Energy, the US Department of the Interior and the White House National Energy Dominance Council.

Prime Minister Netanyahu:

“Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary, ambassadors, the future belongs to those who innovate. America and Israel are the prime innovation nations on the planet. AI is the thrust of innovation now and will create unbelievable things in the future. It’s both challenging, because there could b bad things in it, but there could be unimaginable good things. I think we can lead this. This day will be remembered. Not every signing ceremony is as significant as this. This is very significant.”

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said that on Tuesday it eliminated three hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, including a terrorist who simultaneously served in the intelligence unit of the Lebanese Army and a terrorist who was engaged in air defense in the Sidon sector.

The terrorists, said the IDF, acted to advance terror plots against its forces and were engaged in attempts to rehabilitate military infrastructure in the Sidon area in southern Lebanon.

The IDF emphasized that it is acting against terrorists of the Hezbollah terror organization who are working to rehabilitate terror infrastructure in serious violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon.

Jerusalem, 10 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Mossad (Israel’s international intelligence agency) Director David Barnea announced his decision to appoint “A” (name is classified) as the next Deputy Director of the Mossad. The appointment was approved today (December 10, 2025) by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“A” who was nominated to head the Mossad has served in the organization for over two decades in a variety of roles at the core of the operational front and commanded two operational wings.

He brings with him knowledge, experience, and in-depth familiarity with the organization and its activities – assets that are of particular importance in light of the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the State of Israel and the Mossad in this historic period.

“A” will replace the outgoing, Deputy Head of the Mossad for the past two years, during which time he led the Mossad’s operational activities and made a significant contribution to the Mossad’s achievements in the multi-scene campaign and to strengthening Israel’s strategic position.

By Pesach Benson • November 20, 2025

Jerusalem, 20 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli authorities have charged a 21-year-old resident of Beer-Sheva with spying for Iran, alleging he carried out a series of missions on behalf of Iranian intelligence in the weeks before his arrest, it was cleared for publication on Thursday.

According to the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police, Rafael Reuveni — who was arrested in October — established contact with Iranian intelligence operatives and agreed to conduct activities directed against Israeli security. His interrogation showed that he acted “while understanding that he was operating under Iranian direction and that his actions were intended to harm the security of the state.”

The indictment, filed Thursday in the Beer-Sheva District Court, outlines a series of assignments carried out at the instruction of his handlers. Prosecutors say Reuveni sent photographs he took around Beer-Sheva, “hid a phone and a pack of cigarettes for them,” and retrieved a SIM card from a hiding place as part of efforts to maintain covert communication channels.

He was also allegedly asked to check the status of a firearm that had been stashed for later use. “In accordance with these instructions, Reuveni arrived at the hiding place, located an object that appeared to be a gun, and moved it from one point to another,” the indictment states. Officials said Reuveni received substantial payments via digital transfer in return for the missions.

Security officials described the case as part of a persistent pattern of Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis for surveillance and sabotage roles.

The announcement came days after prosecutors filed a separate indictment against Shimon Azarzar of Kiryat Yam, who is accused of sending sensitive photographs and coordinates of strategic sites to Iranian operatives and leveraging information obtained through his partner, a reserve-duty soldier.

More than 30 Israelis have been charged with espionage on behalf of Iran in 2025.

Israeli Police spokesperson Dean Elsdunne recently told The Press Service of Israel in July that after agents make contact with an Israeli, “It starts out slowly, with small jobs, and slowly the money increases, and they are asked to do more severe crimes as time goes on.”

Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites on June 13, citing intelligence that Tehran had reached “a point of no return” in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. According to Israeli defense officials, Iran has developed the capacity to rapidly enrich uranium and assemble nuclear bombs, with sufficient fissile material for up to 15 weapons.

Israeli intelligence also exposed a covert program to complete all components of a nuclear device. The strikes marked a dramatic escalation in what officials describe as a broader Iranian strategy combining nuclear development, missile proliferation, and proxy warfare aimed at Israel’s destruction.

During 12 days of fighting, Iranian missile strikes killed 28 Israelis and injured over 3,000.