Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said that in order to make the Negev “flourish and strengthen Israel’s status as a global leader in innovation,” an international hydrogen and innovation valley will be established in the eastern Negev

Hydrogen is a green energy source considered the “fuel of the future,” explained the Ministry. The Hydrogen Valley is expected to include a hydrogen refueling station, as well as innovative technologies in the field of hydrogen and energy, including pyrolysis for hydrogen production, hydrogen-based generators, and advanced industrial solutions.

The valley will be established with a government investment of more than 40 million Shekels ($12.2 million).

The Hydrogen and Innovation Valley will serve as an infrastructure and technological hub for examining various aspects of hydrogen production, supply and use in the region and will become a magnet for sustainable economic growth. The valley will demonstrate the hydrogen value chain, from hydrogen production technologies, through storage, warehousing and transportation, to its final use in various sectors.

“The establishment of the valley in Israel will advance the national ability to actually implement hydrogen use throughout the value chain, both in terms of infrastructure and commercial aspects, will assist in formulating appropriate regulation, will advance research and development, and will serve as a physical testing ground, as well as for industrial uses,” said the Ministry.

In addition, the establishment of the valley will enable the promotion of innovation and groundbreaking research and development by demonstrating technologies in the valley. In this way, the valley will create a “bridge” for the promotion of technologies and the assimilation of innovation in the field of energy in general and hydrogen in particular.

The Ministry expects that the establishment of the Valley will create ground for international collaborations in the field of hydrogen and energy innovation, and will be the basis for an infrastructure of regional connectivity in the field of hydrogen and energy.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the industrial output price index for domestic destinations decreased by 0.6% in November 2025 compared to October 2025 (base: 2020 average = 100.0).

The index excluding fuels decreased by 0.1% in November 2025 compared to October 2025 (base: 2020 average = 100.0).

In the last 12 months (November 2025 compared to November 2024), the industrial output price index for domestic destinations decreased by 1.2%, and the index excluding fuels decreased by 0.4%.

The Mining and Quarrying Price Index for Domestic Destinations decreased by 0.6% in November 2025 compared to October 2025 (base: 2020 average = 100.0). In the last 12 months (November 2025 compared to November 2024), the index decreased by 7.1%.

Export price index in industry, mining and quarrying and price indices for the services sector in the third quarter of 2025

The industrial export price index (including mining and quarrying) decreased by 1.9% in the third quarter of 2025, reaching a level of 115.9 points compared to 118.2 points in the previous quarter (base: 2021 average = 100.0 points).

In the third quarter of 2025, prices for legal services decreased by 4.0% and prices for computer programming, computer consulting, and related services decreased by 2.8%.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices thursday, december 18, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,661.68 | +0.73%
TA-90 | 3,791.86 | +0.76%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 3,982.29 | +0.81%
TA125 | 3,684.15 | +0.76%
Money Market | 464.79 | +0.03%
TA125-Value | 4,107.62 | +1.09%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,285.59 | +1.09%
All-Bond | 419.20 | +0.16%
Bond-CPI A | 419.38 | +0.19%
Tel-Bond 60 | 413.63 | +0.18%

Equity Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 4,851,894
Bonds Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 3,272,262

(NIS Thousands)

(NIS Thousands)

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police confirmed that 13 officers were injured after a group of ultra-orthodox people rioted in a religious neighborhood. The incident began Thursday morning when a local Jerusalem parking inspector gave a ticket to a parked vehicle.

The municipal inspector stated that he was attacked by two youths who kicked his body and threatened his life. As a result, officers from the Jerusalem District were dispatched to the scene and arrested a suspect.

At this stage, said the police, hundreds of rioters began to gather in attempts to free the detainee, while throwing objects at the police and causing damage to the police vehicle, which was overturned by them, and additional forces and Border Police fighters were called in to assist.

As a result of the violence and the rioters’ actions, 13 police officers were injured lightly, and five of them were evacuated for medical treatment. In addition, significant damage was caused to four police vehicles.

During the forces’ activity and in accordance with the intensity of the disturbance, various means intended for handling disturbances were used, including the use of batons, stun grenades and gas, water cannons, and more.

During the disturbances, four suspects were arrested by the police, including the suspect who allegedly attacked the municipal inspector.

Jerusalem District Commander, Deputy Commissioner Ronen Avdiya, conducted a situation assessment in the field and ordered the continuation of operations to restore order.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The following are the end of day exchange rates as set by the Bank of Israel Thursday, December 18, 2025:
(Units are given in the foreign currency and the rate is given in its value in Shekels)

Currency | Unit | Rate (NIS) | Daily Change (against the Shekel)
US Dollar | 1 | 3.2180 | ‎-0.155%
GB Pound | 1 | 4.2968 | ‎-0.033%
Japanese Yen | 100 | 2.0652 | ‎-0.343%
Euro | 1 | 3.7728 | ‎-0.087%
AUS Dollar | 1 | 2.1263 | -0.328%
Can Dollar | 1 | 2.3343 | ‎-0.133%
DAN Krone | 1 | 0.5050 | ‎-0.079%
NOR Krone | 1 | 0.3153 | 0%
SA Rand | 1 | 0.1920 | -0.26%
SWD Krona | 1 | 0.3459 | +0.203%
SWS Franc | 1 | 4.0472 | ‎-0.02%

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works and Israeli drone company XTEND have combined their technologies to let a single operator control multiple types of drones at once. In a recent demonstration, larger drones delivered smaller ones for close-up missions, cutting the need for extra operators and improving situational awareness.

XTEND, with offices in Tel Aviv, Tampa, Singapore, and Latvia, provides systems that work even when GPS is blocked or signals are jammed. The partnership aims to make complex missions easier and boost autonomous drone operations in joint all-domain command and control.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli agricultural company ADAMA Ltd. and German chemical giant BASF have announced a strategic partnership to co-develop and commercialize ADAMA’s Gilboa fungicide. The collaboration aims to give European cereal farmers faster access to innovative disease management solutions amid rising resistance and regulatory pressures. BASF will handle development and commercialization alongside ADAMA’s own product lines, with each company retaining independent pricing and sales strategies.

Pending approvals, Gilboa-based formulations are expected in Great Britain by 2027, followed by broader European launches in 2029, offering a new tool for sustainable, high-yield cereal production.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In Gaza, Israeli aircraft killed a terrorist who crossed the Yellow Line and approached them in a way that posed an immediate threat to soldiers, the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday.

Jerusalem, 18 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel struck Hezbollah military targets in multiple locations across Lebanon, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday morning.

According to the IDF, the operations dismantled terror infrastructure and launch sites within a Hezbollah compound used for training militants, storing weapons, and conducting artillery exercises. The IDF said the compound hosted courses where Hezbollah fighters practiced shooting and learned to use various weapons for attacks.

Additional strikes targeted other military structures used by the group over recent months.