Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Finance have approved budgetary additions to the metro project in Tirat Carmel and Haifa, adding to a total investment of approximately 700 million Shekels ($220 million).

The metro, whose new line route extends over about ten kilometers, is expected to create a rapid transportation continuum that will connect Tirat Carmel and Haifa West to the commercial, employment and leisure centers, including direct access to Sammy Ofer Stadium.

The works, which are already underway, include paving designated priority lanes, establishing 30 new and sophisticated stations equipped with real-time information displays, and implementing technological infrastructure for priority at intersections. Alongside these, the project is upgrading the urban space with illuminated bike paths, new sidewalks, and extensive landscape development.

Jerusalem, 12 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Tourism Minister Haim Katz will soon submit for government approval a first-of-its-kind plan for the development of tourism in Judea and Samaria, with a total budget of approximately 86 million Shekels ($27 million).

The Ministry said the move is intended to reduce ongoing infrastructure gaps in the area, which has less than 2% of hotel rooms in Israel, despite a unique concentration of heritage, natural, and religious sites with national and international tourism potential.

The Ministry of Tourism emphasized that the expected return for a hotel entrepreneur in Judea and Samaria is currently estimated at only 4%, one of the lowest in Israel, and that without proactive government intervention, a tourism industry will not develop in the region.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — As part of Operation “New Order” to strengthen governance, enforce the rule of law, and restore normalcy to daily life in the Negev, in an enforcement activity in the Bedouin town Tarabin more than 30 suspects were arrested and detained for questioning for a variety of offenses, and weapons were seized.

“The activity is intended to restore a sense of security, enable a normal daily routine for law-abiding residents, and establish a continuous presence and enforcement of state officials in the area,” said the police.

In parallel with the operational activity, an integrated regulatory activity was carried out, in which civilian enforcement agencies and regulators operated in the village of Tarabin to carry out broad and focused economic enforcement. The activity included enforcement in the areas of planning and construction, environmental quality, infrastructure, taxation, National Insurance, the electricity company and agriculture – as part of a comprehensive action concept aimed at damaging criminal infrastructure, strengthening the rule of law and promoting normalization and proper civil routine in the community.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Tourism held a meeting of CEOs from the industry and announced the establishment of a tourism innovation community in the field of artificial intelligence in Israel.

The meeting, which dealt with the topic of “Artificial Intelligence as a Growth Engine for Israeli Tourism,” was intended to generate a brainstorming session that would lead to finding ways to mobilize technology and artificial intelligence to restore tourism to Israel and integrate them into the management of tourism businesses.

It was attended by CEOs and senior figures in the tourism industry and the worlds of artificial intelligence. During the meeting, the Ministry’s CEO, Michael Itzhakov, presented the steps that the Ministry is currently promoting in the field: establishing a dedicated innovation community that will bring together leading players from the private market, academia, and technology; formulating a national policy document for the use of AI in tourism and accelerating the use of technological tools within the Ministry’s service system. In addition, a “Talking Tourism” project was presented that will allow tourists to scan a barcode at key sites and watch AI-based videos that talk about the place.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed what his office described as a “historic” joint statement on Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas today, Sunday, with german interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.

“Iran and its proxies – Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis – threaten not only Israel but regional stability and international security,” reads the statement. “The declaration signed today anchors deep cooperation with Germany in the areas of cyber, the fight against terrorism and advanced technologies and translates a security commitment into joint action.”

Netanyahu’s office said the signed declaration “anchors Germany’s deep commitment to the security of the State of Israel, and brings security-technological cooperation between the countries to a new strategic level.”

The declaration establishes a broad security partnership between the security authorities of the two countries in the areas of cyber defense, advanced technologies, law enforcement, counterterrorism, and civil defense, and reflects Germany’s historical responsibility – including strengthening Holocaust remembrance and cooperation with Yad Vashem.

“The signing of the declaration, especially in light of the Hamas attack on October 7, constitutes a defining moment in deepening the security, technological, and values-based alliance between Israel and Germany,” added Netanyahu’s office.

“I attach enormous importance to the overall cooperation between Israel and Germany, and especially on this question of cybersecurity, which is one of the main threats to our internal security, and in many ways also our infrastructure and other threats,” said Netanyahu.

“”I think Germany and Israel are natural partners,” he added.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will participate in financing an insurance premium for farmers for protection against natural damage in agriculture for 2026 with approximately 78 million Shekels ($24 million).

The support budget for 2026 was determined in accordance with the insurance policy sales forecasts submitted to the ministry by the various insurance companies, explained the Ministry.

The purpose of the support is to encourage Israeli farmers to purchase agricultural insurance, strengthen the economic stability of farms, and ensure the continued production of local, fresh agricultural produce, as part of the overall effort to strengthen the food security of the State of Israel.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Over the past 24 hours, the Israel Police, in collaboration with IDF (Israel Defense Forces) fighters, have been working to thwart and locate illegally held weapons, arrested three suspects and seized weapons and ammunition in Judea and Samaria.

Police detectives from the “Arrow of Judah” unit from the Judea region, with precise intelligence guidance from the unit’s intelligence unit, along with a military force from the Judea Brigade, conducted a search in the village of Bayt Awa, located west of Hebron, during which a Carlo-type weapon, a magazine, and ammunition were located and seized.

Following the findings, two suspects, family members and local residents, were arrested.

In another case, during an activity in Kfar Anata, located near Jerusalem, a search was conducted by Binyamin Police Station detectives near a house.

During the search, a bag containing an airsoft gun, assault weapons, tactical equipment and a walkie-talkie was found. Also, during an examination of the suspect’s cell phone, documentation was found linking him to the illegal use of weapons. The suspect was arrested and taken to the police station for questioning.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s fire and rescue system is preparing for stormy weather that includes strong winds, rain, heavy precipitation and the risk of flooding and inundation

According to the weather forecast for Tuesday, January 13, which predicts strong winds of up to 100 km/h mainly in the coastal plain and mountains, there is a risk of damage including falling trees.

Heavy rains and flooding are also expected, mainly in the south and east of the country. In light of this, all districts will be strengthened under the direction of the Fire and Rescue Commissioner for Israel, Eyal Caspi, while deploying teams at risk points throughout the country.

The preparation includes reinforcement of teams and stations, preparation of special rescue units – including a flame unit, running water rescue units and firefighters trained in specialized equipment for dealing with flood events, rescue and rescue.

Jerusalem, 11 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the revenue (sales) of the marketing chains (stores) in the months of September – November 2025 (annualized trend data) saw an increase of 0.6% (at constant prices) in total retail chain revenue, after an increase of 6.2% (at constant prices) in the three months June – August 2025.

Food chain revenue for the period September – November 2025 (annualized trend data) saw a 1.1% increase (at constant prices), after a 3.1% increase (at constant prices) in June – August 2025.