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By Pesach Benson • January 15, 2026

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Two Israeli-Arabs from Lod and a Palestinian resident of Samaria were arrested on suspicion of transferring weapons components intended for terrorist operatives in Judea and Samaria, it was cleared for publication on Thursday.

A joint investigation by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police led to the arrest of Hamdan Essam Abu Lebeda, 25, and Muhammad Hassan Khalil Amsaad, 25, both residents of Lod. Also detained was Ahmed Muhammad Saleh Awad, 33, a Palestinian resident of the village of Urta, near Shechem (Nablus).

The investigation was launched after Amsaad was apprehended while attempting to enter Judea and Samaria carrying more than 500 rounds of M16 ammunition. Following his arrest, the case was transferred to the Shin Bet for further questioning.

According to investigators, Amsaad admitted that the ammunition was intended for Awad, who maintains contacts with terrorist operatives in Judea and Samaria and assists them in acquiring weapons. The probe further revealed that Abu Lebeda was the source of the ammunition and that he acted together with Amsaad to transfer weapon parts to Awad inside the territory.

Upon completion of the investigation, the Central District Attorney’s Office is expected to file indictments against the two Israeli suspects. The case involving Awad is being handled by the military prosecution in Samaria.

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — More than a million Israelis switched from the national electricity company in 2025 to private energy companies.

In July of last year, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Noga and the Israel Electric Company launched the electricity reform. During the year, 279,500 customers joined the reform, switching from the Israel Electric Company to private suppliers, which is more than a million citizens who enjoy electricity at a discount of 7% – 20%.

Of the new entrants, 161,328 have basic home meters, 100,999 have smart home meters, and 17,173 have smart business meters. The total number of porters currently stands at 362,333.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Shortly ago (Thursday afternoon), IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers arrived at the Sa-Nur Junction located east of Tulkarm in Samaria following a report received about dozens of masked Israelis damaging Palestinian property in the area.

The Israelis allegedly set fire to Palestinian vehicles on the road near the settlement, and also assaulted a Palestinian who was in one of the vehicles. As a result of the incident, two Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment. This is according to a report from the IDF.

IDF forces arrested three suspects at the entrance to a nearby Israeli town, who were transferred for investigation at the Ariel station in the Judea and Samaria District.

Security forces continue searches in the area and investigation of the incident.

“Security forces condemn violence of all kinds and will continue to act to maintain the security of the residents and order in the area,” said the IDF.

Jerusalem, 6 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Unit for Coordinating the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Prostitution at Israel’s Just Ministry brought to the attention of the public considering using child surrogacy procedures in Ukraine, important information and a warning regarding the concerns arising from the procedures performed in that country.

The Unit monitors the patterns of conduct in surrogacy procedures outside of Israel, and conducts an assessment whenever indications arise that raise concerns about defects in the informed consent and free will of the surrogate mothers, and even their exploitation. In extreme cases, when these are serious and cumulative indications, it is even possible to indicate a concern about the existence of various criminal offenses, including human trafficking.

Among other things, the following indications were observed in Ukraine: cases of severe violence against the surrogate women, exploitation of particularly vulnerable women, bringing foreign women to Ukraine solely for the purpose of carrying out these procedures, stipulations Draconian surrogacy agreements that violate the rights of the surrogate and ignore the ongoing war in the region, as well as non-payment for the procedure.

In light of the above, the recommendation of the Coordination Unit for Combating Human Trafficking is to refrain from performing surrogacy procedures in Ukraine at this stage , in order to prevent harm and damage to the surrogate mothers, the intended parents and the newborn babies, and to prevent difficulties and problems in legal proceedings down the road.

By Ezra Lev Cohen • January 6, 2026

Jerusalem, 6 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — It’s a bustling Friday morning in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda shuk, but it seems everyone has time to take a break from their pre-Shabbat shopping to say a few words of admiration about Deni Avdija, the Israeli basketball phenom from Kibbutz Beit Zera who is taking the U.S. by storm. On Monday, the Portland Trail Blazers forward was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week.

The 25-year-old Avdija is even outpacing better-known stars like LeBron James and Kevin Durant in fan voting for the All-Star Game, which will take place in February.

“He is a great player,” one young man eagerly tells The Press Service of Israel.

“He’s the best NBA player,” says another.

“He shoots beautiful three-pointers. The whole defense is on him, because he’s the player that influences the contest,” says a third.

Even people who don’t watch sports feel the “Deni-buzz.”

“I hardly watch sports [but] I see him a lot… on the cornflakes box and stuff,” says one kid excitedly.

It’s no accident that Avdija, known as “Turbo” for his aggressive play style, has become so beloved. He’s averaging 25.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game, numbers reminiscent of LeBron James’ production at the same age. He’s singlehandedly led the Portland Trail Blazers to contention for a playoff spot for the first time since 2021. All this puts him on the cusp of becoming Israel’s first All-Star.

But it’s not just his skills that have made him so popular. He’s different from most NBA players. He has little social media presence and a humble personality in interviews. Yet his calm demeanor belies a huge community of fans and followers who latch on to his contagious personality and a lead-by-example locker-room style. As one older gentleman put it in the shuk: “Deni Avdija is a great man. He’s a mensch,” Yiddish praise used to describe a person of character and integrity.

Rakefet Arieli, the team nutritionist for Maccabi Tel Aviv, recalled being intrigued when a 16-year-old Avdija first walked into the Maccabi Tel Aviv training facility.

“I knew that he is very talented and I knew he has very good genes because you see his parents, but he was very… childish,” she told TPS-IL. She described how their early meetings consisted of Avdija pointing at pictures of the team’s stars and saying, “I want to look like them.” This wasn’t unexpected.

“At 16-17 years old, body image is important,” Arieli explained. “But there was a point when he understood that if he wants to play basketball in the EuroLeague and in Tel Aviv, he needs to take care of his body not just in an aesthetic state of mind but also from an athletic state.”

On the court, though, and with his teammates, Arieli watched a young man who was in his element. “Even when he was young, he was always dominant because he’s a funny guy, he likes to laugh,” she reminisced. “He puts his music very loud. You always heard his voice. He has very good vibes. He’s very friendly, he has a lot of friends, and all the teammates always loved him,” something of a rarity on professional teams where competing for playing time can often become the focus.

Avdija’s charisma off the court and talent on the court resulted in almost immediate success with Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2018, at 17, he led the team to the Israeli League championship; then he did it again in 2019 and in 2020.

In 2020, at the age of 19, Avdija won both the Israeli League MVP and the Israeli League Israeli Player of the Year awards, the youngest athlete ever to achieve that feat. But all along, Deni understood his success in the context of his community, his country, and his people. In 2020, he was drafted ninth overall by the NBA’s Washington Wizards. At a post-draft celebration in Tel Aviv, Avdija declared to his family and friends, “I’m gonna make you proud. I’m gonna work 100%.”

Avdija’s Israeli and broader Jewish communities remain at the forefront of his identity, even as he’s found international fame. He doesn’t play on Yom Kippur. He lights the Chanukah candles every year. In the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack, Avdija told reporters, “There’s really more important things than basketball in life. And it’s really tough for me, and my mind sometimes isn’t there. But I got to keep it professional and do my job, and when I have the chance to stand with Israel, I will.”

Meanwhile, Avdija’s play continues to improve. On Saturday, Avdija scored his third triple-double of the season and made a clutch three-pointer to seal Portland’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs. On online basketball forums and in Instagram comment sections, fans seemed more convinced than ever of his All-Star chances. In his postgame interview, though, all he could talk about was his teammates. “This team, this camaraderie, those players, it’s just fun to play. They’re fighting, they’re defending, we’re just an amazing team.”

Back in the shuk, the pride Israelis feel for Deni is infectious. “Deni, the king,” declares one passerby. “You’re going to make it to the All-Star Game, Deni, and we love you.”

“Deni Avdija has a soul,” says another. “You see that he’s playing for the people.”

One guy says it all: “Thank God for Deni Avdija.”

But even as they cheer him on, Israelis place a certain level of responsibility on Avdija.

“He wants to show the whole world that [though] Israel has much less funding for basketball, we can still make it,” says a man in the shuk. “He should just be a good person, a great basketball player.”

“He has a lot of responsibility. He’ll make it.”

By Pesach Benson • December 31, 2025

Jerusalem, 31 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — After two years of war, a third of Israelis report needing professional psychological support, highlighting a mounting mental health crisis, according to a comprehensive survey released on Wednesday.

The Israel Health Index 2025, the country’s first nationwide assessment combining public health surveys with objective medical data, paints a troubling picture of a population struggling with the psychological toll of prolonged conflict. The survey was conducted by Maccabi Health Services, Israel’s second-largest health care provider.

The report describes the need for mental health support as a figure that “continues to climb,” with 17 percent of respondents saying they feel they need help but have not yet sought it. One in five Israelis now reports dealing with emotional problems such as anxiety, depression, or anger frequently or constantly.

Perhaps most concerning, 40 percent of the population described having only moderate to poor ability to cope with daily problems, suggesting that the war’s psychological impact extends far beyond clinical diagnoses into the fabric of everyday life. One in four Israelis continues to feel stressed, worried, and anxious even after the ceasefire.

The clinical evidence supports these self-reported struggles. Post-trauma diagnoses have surged 30 percent since 2023, before the current conflict began. Israelis have also turned increasingly to self-medication, with purchases of over-the-counter sleep and calming medications rising 14 percent. More than one-third of the population now experiences insomnia at least twice weekly, a potential indicator of anxiety and stress disorders.

Maccabi surveyed 1,100 Israelis from all four of the state’s health maintenance organizations in late October and early November 2025, shortly after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and the return of living hostages. The report also drew on medical data from its 2.7 million members. Maccabi provides health care for about one-quarter of the Israeli population.

Mental health has also become the second most searched topic on Maccabi’s health website, with 12 percent of all searches, trailing only pregnancy and childbirth information, the report noted.

Yet paradoxically, the data also reveals a population displaying remarkable resilience. Despite the mental health challenges, 66 percent of Israelis report high optimism levels, and 62 percent rate their overall health as very good or excellent, a figure the report notes “is in consistent increase.” Nearly half maintain a healthy lifestyle, also an increasing trend.

This apparent contradiction suggests Israelis are managing to maintain positive outlooks and healthy behaviors even while struggling psychologically. The 17 percent who acknowledge needing mental health support but have not sought it represent a particularly vulnerable group, potentially due to stigma, lack of access, or simple denial in the face of ongoing challenges, the report added.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s National Cyber Command warned of an increase in targeted phishing attempts, which may appear particularly credible, impersonating well-known entities and distributed via messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram.

The attacks are targeted and “tailored” to the interests of senior officials and key figures in various fields, including academia, government, and the media.

In these cases, the attacker does not distribute a random message, but builds an attack based on information gathering and prior planning.

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing and National Insurance Institute have recently completed a joint and “first-of-its-kind” initiative that they say “places the fulfillment of rights with citizens who are entitled to them at the heart of government action.” Specifically, this initiative is about rental subsidies for the disabled.

As part of the collaboration, and after professional and in-depth staff work, recipients of benefits that qualify for rental assistance from the Ministry of Construction and Housing were identified. They then carried out a proactive initiative to identify potential beneficiaries for rental assistance, and subsequently contacted them directly.

So, starting this month, text messages will be sent to approximately 40,000 citizens who have been found to be potentially eligible for rent assistance, with the aim of encouraging them to exercise their rights and instructing them on how to act.

The text messages direct potential beneficiaries to submit an application online, or alternatively to one of the branches of the ministry’s registration companies that provide services regarding housing assistance. It should be noted that this is a process that will be incorporated into the ministry’s ongoing work, and text messages regarding the exercise of rights will also be sent in the future to those whom the system identifies as potentially eligible.

Jerusalem, 22 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said that on Monday afternoon a number of Israeli citizens who breached the border in the Golan Heights area into Syrian territory.

IDF forces rushed to the spot, located the citizens and returned them safely to the territory of the State of Israel.

The IDF said the suspects who were captured will be transferred to the Israel Police for further processing.

“The IDF strongly condemns the incident and emphasizes that this is a serious incident that constitutes a criminal offense that endangers civilians and IDF forces,” it said.

According to the Israel Police there were seven people who crossed the border.