Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A new study by Israel’s Competition Authority that assesses the market power of electricity producers was published on Sunday. The study indicates concerns about the exercise of market power by electricity producers, even considering the expected production expansions.

The study is expected to assist the Competition Commissioner during consultations in the electricity sector, particularly with regard to sectoral competitive examinations in the electricity sector according to the Concentration Law.

In recent decades, the wholesale market in Israel for electricity production has been opened to competition. Previously controlled by the electricity company, which was the sole producer in the field, private producers have been given the opportunity to obtain production licenses and establish electricity production facilities that will operate alongside the power plants of the electricity company.

The wholesale electricity market mechanism is unique – a central market mechanism within which a tender is held every day for each half hour of the following day. The system administrator publishes in advance a forecast of how much electricity it will be required to supply each half hour of the following day (“demand levels”) and accordingly the power plants offer price quotes for the supply of electricity for each half hour separately.

The new study details two methodologies that focus on examining the incentive and ability of electricity producers to adopt a strategy of reducing the amount of electricity they supply to the economy in order to raise the market price and thereby maximize their profits.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Tripartite Work Plan for Military Cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel, as well as the work plans between the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and the Greek military and between the IDF and the Cypriot military, for the year 2026 were signed last week in Cyprus.

The Israeli delegation, led by Brigadier General Amit Adler, met in Nicosia with its Greek and Cypriot counterparts, as part of the annual joint meeting of the militaries of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus.

The plans include, among other things, joint exercises and training, working groups in a variety of fields, and strategic military dialogue on issues of common interest.

“The signing of the plans constitutes an additional layer in deepening military cooperation between the countries, and contributes to strengthening stability, security, and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” said the IDF.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The concession agreement was signed for the construction, operation and maintenance of a solar energy facility, using photovoltaic technology, combined with battery storage on the site of the of the PLOT A solar thermal power plant in Ashalim, located in the Negev south of Be’er Sheva.

The facility is expected to supply electricity to the national grid with a capacity of 80 megawatts, with the (installed) panel capacity of 150 megawatts and the storage capacity of approximately 400 megawatt hours. The facility will sell electricity to the national grid in accordance with the Electricity Authority’s market regulation for high-voltage integrated storage facilities operating in a competitive market model.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices Sunday, December 28, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,618.80 | +0.43%
TA-90 | 3,777.63 | +1.06%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 3,872.54 | +0.36%
TA125 | 3,647.25 | +0.56%
Money Market | 465.07 | 0.00
TA125-Value | 3,955.28 | -0.02%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,241.34 | +0.63%
All-Bond | 420.08 | +0.05%
Bond-CPI A | 420.93 | -0.05%
Tel-Bond 60 | 414.39 | +0.02%

Equity Turnover
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Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli government revealed Sunday evening that, in what it called “a blow to Hamas’ infrastructure in Europe,” Israeli assistance with information and evidence for law enforcement in Italy led to the investigation and arrests of Muhammad Hanun, the Hamas leader in that country, and six other senior people in the organization there, including a senior figure in Hamas’s leadership in Europe and a member of Hamas’s leadership on the continent.

A joint task force of the Economic Counterterrorism Headquarters (ECT) in Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the Intelligence/CEO Division of the Israel Police, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Intelligence Division, and the Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service), transferred information and evidence to law enforcement authorities in Italy, through accepted and agreed channels, as part of an investigation targeting Hamas infrastructure in Italy.

During the operation, Italian law enforcement authorities seized assets, money, and property. It is suspected that those involved systematically worked to collect and transfer funds to the civilian and military arms of the declared terrorist organization Hamas.

“Hamas terrorists and all those who seek our harm do not and will not have a safe haven – neither in the Middle East nor in Europe,” said Israel’s Minister of Defense Israel Katz. “The State of Israel will act resolutely to reach every terrorist and everyone who aids terrorism that acts against it. Anyone who thinks they can finance terrorism and hide overseas is mistaken.”

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Bank of Israel reported that in the third quarter of 2025, the balance of the public’s financial assets portfolio increased by approximately 265.1 billion Shekels ($82 billion or 4%), to about 6.9 trillion Shekels ($2.15 trillion).

The increase in the portfolio’s value in the third quarter was mainly due to increases in the balance of equities in Israel (6.8%), in the balance of corporate bonds (6.6 percent), and in the balance of investments abroad (5.9%).

The balance of the asset portfolio managed by institutional investors increased in the third quarter by approximately 143 billion Shekels ($44 billion or 4.7%), to approximately 3.2 trillion Shekels ($1 trillion) at the end of the quarter.

The scope of the portfolio managed by mutual funds in Israel increased by approximately 46.4 billion Shekels ($14 billion or 6.9%) in the third quarter, to a level of 722 billion Shekels ($226 billion). There were net new investments, mainly in funds specializing in domestic bonds, shekel money market funds, and in funds specializing in domestic equities.

The Ministry of Health is issuing a swimming advisory for Carmel Beach (North and South) in Haifa, following abnormal seawater test results.

The Ministry continues to monitor the situation.

The Ministry reminds the public that swimming is permitted only at designated beaches.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — After reporting to the reserves since the beginning of the war and operating in Gaza, Lebanon, and now in Syria, forces of the IDF’s (Israel Defense Forces) 55th “Spearhead” Brigade have completed more than 100 days of operation in the region and their mission.

They have been operating for the past three months in the defense of the Golan Heights and in the security area in southern Syria. During the activity in the sector, the brigade forces completed dozens of proactive activities that affected the sense of security of the residents of the Golan Heights.

The brigade forces will be replaced in the coming days by another reserve brigade forces that will continue their activities in the southern Syria and Golan Heights area.

Jerusalem, 28 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Jerusalem Police officers arrested a resident of eastern Jerusalem suspected of hitting a police officer during a traffic enforcement operation in the Atarot area in northern Jerusalem and fleeing the scene on foot.

The driver’s vehicle aroused the suspicion of the police operating the traffic enforcement and they acted to stop it.

At a certain point, the vehicle’s driver began to flee the scene, accelerating in a reckless and dangerous manner, hit a police officer who was operating at the location, exited the vehicle, and fled on foot.

As a result of the incident, the officer was slightly injured and evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital. Central Unit traffic police together with additional forces that arrived quickly at the scene—and began what the police described as “extensive searches” for the suspect and, within a short time, a suspect was arrested by police forces along with several additional suspects.

There is no word yet if this was a terror attack or a criminally motivated one.