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Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, in collaboration with the “Leket Israel” association, is launching a new pilot to rescue surplus agricultural produce from farmers across the country and transfer it to those in need through an innovative real-time reporting application.

“In a reality where 2.6 million tons of food are thrown away in Israel every year,” said the Ministry, “saving food and reducing food loss are important and central issues.”

The pilot, which will be launched as part of the implementation of the principles of the National Food Security Plan 2050, is based on the development of a GIS-based application that will allow farmers to report in real time on surplus produce that is forming in the field or at the packing house, and will allow the “Leket Israel” association to come and rescue them. Thus, thousands of kilograms of edible produce, which could have been sent to landfill, will be transferred to those in need, and will help increase the accessibility of many and diverse populations to fresh, healthy and nutritious food.

Beyond its significant social contribution, the pilot is also expected to reduce the environmental damage resulting from food landfilling and strengthen the connection between farmers and the community.

Until the move, the farmers’ reporting system to the association was based on telephone contact, which involved long handling times and high operational costs. The new application will enable a transition from a reactive system to a proactive and digital system, thereby making it possible to optimize the response, shorten collection times, and ensure that the produce collected is fresher and has a longer shelf life.

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The National Digital Directorate and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology announced today (19.01.2026) 13 new government projects that will receive support as part of the second call for proposals to integrate artificial intelligence into the work of government ministries. This is a large-scale initiative to promote artificial intelligence applications in government ministries and trust units, with the aim of improving services to citizens, streamlining work processes and moving the public sector into the era of artificial intelligence.

As part of the program, with a total investment of approximately NIS 40 million led by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the National Digital System, the selected projects will receive professional guidance from AI experts from the public sector and Academia, dedicated training and regulatory guidance that will ensure responsible implementation of the technology in government ministries.

The selected projects will receive professional guidance from AI experts from the public sector and academia, dedicated training and regulatory guidance that will ensure responsible implementation of the technology in government ministries.

Jerusalem, 18 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The government of Israel approved a reform to streamline the development of tourism infrastructure with a merger of two government tourism companies that it said will save millions of Shekels. The Old Acre and Nazareth Development Company will be folded into the Government Tourism Company (HTC).

The consolidated company will operate under the Government Tourism Company and will serve as one central government executive arm of the Ministry of Tourism, in accordance with its policy and budget. This will be in the areas of tourism infrastructure development, tourism preservation and maintenance, including heritage sites and urban assets of historical value in Acre and Nazareth.

In addition, it was decided that the Dead Sea Protection Company (DSPC) will cease to engage in tourism infrastructure and will serve as an implementation arm of the Ministry of Finance, while focusing its activities on the necessary protections in the Dead Sea area. Consequently, no new tourism infrastructure development projects will be transferred to it, unless they are integrated into projects required for the protection of the Dead Sea. In addition, an inter-ministerial team will be established to decide on the completion of projects currently being carried out by the company.

By Pesach Benson • January 18, 2026

Jerusalem, 18 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli opposition parties on Sunday announced a full boycott of legislative discussions on a government-backed bill to establish a politically appointed investigative panel into the failures surrounding Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack. The move escalates a bitter dispute over how the country should examine one of the deadliest events in its history.

In a joint statement issued by the chairmen of all opposition factions, the lawmakers said they would refuse to participate in deliberations in the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, which is expected to begin debating the bill this week. The opposition, led by former prime minister Yair Lapid, accuses the government of trying to block the creation of an independent state commission of inquiry, a mechanism traditionally used in Israel to investigate major national failures.

“We will not cooperate with a cynical attempt to establish a political committee with one goal: to escape and remove responsibility from the October 7 government and from Netanyahu’s own personal failure,” the opposition leaders said in the statement. “Only a state commission of inquiry will arrive at the truth, provide answers to the difficult questions, and prevent the next disaster.”

The controversy centers on a bill sponsored by Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner, which proposes an alternative to a state commission of inquiry. Under the bill, a six-member investigative committee and its chair would ideally be appointed by a supermajority of 80 out of the Knesset’s 120 members. If no agreement is reached within two weeks, the coalition and opposition would each select three members. The panel would also include four supervisory representatives of bereaved families.

Critics argue that the structure effectively guarantees coalition control. The legislation allows the Knesset speaker to appoint committee members if either side refuses to cooperate. With the opposition now pledging a boycott, Speaker Amir Ohana, a member of the governing coalition, would likely make the appointments himself.

The bill passed a preliminary reading last month by a narrow 53–48 vote, prompting protests by opposition lawmakers and families of victims of the attack, in which Hamas-led terrorists killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 from southern Israel. Many bereaved families have demanded a state commission with broad powers and independence from political influence.

The October Council, which represents relatives of those killed or abducted, welcomed the opposition’s decision. “This is a moral, principled, and necessary step against a transparent attempt to erase responsibility and escape the truth,” the group said, adding, “This is not a struggle of opposition and coalition; it is a struggle of families against a government that is afraid of being investigated.”

Government figures have defended the proposed panel and sharply criticized demands for a state commission. Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has said the alternative body should also examine “the judicial system” and others who, he claimed, “weakened our deterrence.” Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar dismissed the opposition’s accusations, saying, “Anyone who thinks a commission would conclude that the main, the only, culprit is Netanyahu is living in a dream world.”

Kallner, responding to the boycott threat, accused the opposition of politicizing the issue themselves. “Anyone who insists on a committee appointed only by the president of the Supreme Court and rejects an equal and transparent committee,” he said, “is not seeking the truth. He is looking for a cover-up.”

Netanyahu has resisted calls for a formal state commission of inquiry, calling it “politically biased.” Such commissions, led by senior Supreme Court justices, can summon witnesses, collect evidence, and make recommendations, though the government is not required to follow them.

The Israel Defense Forces has released a series of detailed internal probes examining how roughly 5,000 terrorists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad were able to storm Israeli communities and overrun military positions. However, the military probes only address issues of operations, intelligence, and command — not decisions made by the political echelon.

Israel’s last commission of inquiry investigated the deaths of 45 people in a 2021 stampede at Mount Meron. That commission ultimately held Netanyahu personally responsible in 2024.

Jerusalem, 13 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Government of Israel and Society Division in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) published for the first time the recommendations of the inter-ministerial team for innovation in government, with the intention of creating a leap forward in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of service and responses to the public. This, said the PMO, is done by establishing a strategic, holistic and applicable action plan to concentrate efforts, connect and diversify measures, and by continuously identifying, supporting and accelerating innovative initiatives and ventures and removing systemic barriers to their advancement.

Among other things, the professional work lays out an outline and initial operating theory for institutional-process innovation in government, which includes a comprehensive approach to efforts in this context, and is not based solely on aspects of digitization and digital innovation.

Main recommendations:

Creating and managing a cross-cutting and measurable portfolio of government efforts based on shared conceptualization and operational theory.

A hybrid innovation management model supports, encourages, empowers, and values the initiatives and innovations that emerge from the field and, on the other hand, creates a strategic
framework/professional conceptual umbrella for the field from a COG (Center of Government) perspective.

Removing barriers to innovation as a key effort to enable innovation.

Accelerating and supporting entrepreneurs and initiatives throughout the government to realize and leverage capabilities, including in designated spaces.

Skills and tools for human capital – with an emphasis on focused development and implementation capsules.

The incentive of government bodies and risk management executives enables and promotes innovation.

Jerusalem, 13 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released, for the first time, the recommendations of its inter-ministerial team on government innovation. The roadmap aims to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of public services by connecting initiatives, removing systemic barriers, and accelerating innovative solutions.

Presented at the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the new Government Innovation Space, the recommendations emphasize portfolio management, grassroots support under a strategic umbrella, workforce skill development, and incentivizing risk-friendly management.

Israel recently joined the OECD’s Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, which guided the team with international best practices.

The Governance and Social Affairs Department of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is publishing, for the first time, the recommendations of the inter-ministerial team on innovation in government. This initiative aims to create a significant leap in the effectiveness and efficiency of public services and solutions. This will be achieved by laying out a strategic, holistic, and practical roadmap to concentrate efforts, connect and leverage processes, and by identifying, supporting, and accelerating innovative initiatives while removing systemic barriers to their advancement.

Yesterday, during the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Government Innovation Space, attended by Accountant General Yali Rothenberg and PMO Deputy Director General for Governance and Social Affairs Liron Hantz, the guiding principles underlying the team’s recommendations were presented. The establishment of this Innovation Space, created by the Accountant General’s Office and the PMO with the support of the inter-ministerial team, serves as a practical implementation of the strategic principles outlined in the report.

Recently, as part of the formulation of these recommendations, the Government of Israel joined the OPSI (Observatory of Public Sector Innovation) of the OECD. The OECD provided procedural and professional guidance to the team, based on international trends and in-depth learning from meetings with government officials in various countries. Israel’s Ambassador to the OECD, Shay Cohen, noted that this is a core issue for the organization in its efforts to assist member states with effective governance and the implementation of innovation. He added that for Israel, cooperation with the OECD in innovation is a top priority.

The inter-ministerial team consists of senior representatives from the Center of Governance (COG) – including the Ministry of Finance, the National Digital Directorate, the Ministry of Justice, and the Civil Service Commission –consulting with various stakeholders inside and outside of government. The team was established in July 2023 with the backing of the directors-general of these government agencies.

Among other things, the professional work establishes the first operational doctrine for institutional-procedural innovation in the government. This includes a comprehensive approach to these efforts that goes beyond just digitization and digital innovation.

Main recommendations:

Portfolio Management: Creating and managing a government-wide, measurable portfolio of efforts based on a shared conceptual framework.

Hybrid Model: A model for managing innovation that supports and encourages grassroots initiatives while providing a strategic professional “umbrella” from a Center of Government (COG) perspective.

Removing Barriers: Focusing on the removal of obstacles to innovation as a central effort to enable progress.

Acceleration and Support: Supporting entrepreneurs and initiatives across the government to realize and leverage capabilities, including within dedicated spaces.

Human Capital Skills: Providing tools and skills for the workforce, emphasizing focused development and implementation “capsules.”

Incentivizing Management: Encouraging government bodies and managers to adopt risk management practices that enable and promote innovation.

PMO Acting Director General Drorit Steinmetz:

“We will continue to act out of a commitment to promoting a more efficient, smart, and effective public service for the benefit of Israel’s citizens. The team’s recommendations strengthen our ability to take previous efforts forward and connect them to bring greater collective benefit.”

PMO Deputy Director General for Governance and Social Affairs Liron Hantz:

“Innovation in government is not a luxury but a necessity. In this first-of-its-kind roadmap, we are creating a professional doctrine based on OECD principles. It aims to instill innovation throughout all government branches, accelerating innovative moves to leverage overall capabilities for the public’s benefit. The ‘Start-Up Nation’ must include the public sector and not remain the domain of the business sector alone.”

Full report link:

https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/generalpage/files251124/he/teamreport120126.pdf

Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — During the night, hundreds of police raided the Shu’fat refugee camp in northern Jerusalem, arrested eight suspects and seized weapons, ammunition, drugs and stolen IDF (Israel Defense Forces) equipment.

This came as the “Capital Shield” program was launched Sunday night, part of the Israel Police’s fight against criminal elements, terrorist infrastructures, and troublemakers, with the participation of hundreds of Border Police surrounding Jerusalem and Jerusalem District police officers.

This is a large-scale operational plan that was formulated upon the assumption of the position of Jerusalem District Commander, Major General Avshalom Peled, as a strategic response to the need to strengthen sovereignty and deepen governance in the area surrounding Jerusalem and the villages adjacent to the fence. The operation focuses on offensive and proactive activity in the heart of the area, while combining precise intelligence with advanced operational capabilities, with the aim of increasing the personal security of all residents of Jerusalem in particular and Israel in general.

By Kostis Konstantinou • January 12, 2026

Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A wave of incendiary commentary in Turkish pro-government media has targeted Greece and the eastern Mediterranean island of Kastellorizo, including explicit calls for military action and unsubstantiated claims involving Israel.

İbrahim Karagül, a columnist for the Islamist, pro-government daily Yeni Şafak, alleged that Greece has transferred “Israeli weapons and Israeli soldiers” to Aegean islands and established missile depots and bases “on Turkey’s borders.” He warned that if Athens were to take similar steps on Kastellorizo, “Turkey must immediately seize the island, without hesitation,” dismissing international law as irrelevant.

In similar rhetoric, Turan Oğuz, described in pro-government outlets as a defense analyst, paraphrased remarks attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump on Greenland to argue that “something must be done on Kastellorizo, whether they like it or not,” claiming—without evidence—that otherwise Russia or China would take control of the island. He also questioned Greek sovereignty based on historical arguments.

By contrast, Yusuf Erim of TRT World dismissed as “fake news” reports that Greece is considering an Israeli proposal for joint use of Kastellorizo, while cautioning that any such move would prompt a “disproportionate and decisive” response.

No official confirmation has been provided for the claims circulated by Turkish commentators. The statements add to heightened rhetoric in the eastern Mediterranean amid ongoing regional tensions.