Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — On Christmas Eve 2025, there are approximately 184,200 Christians living in Israel , which is roughly (1.9%) of the Israeli population. This is according to the data on Israel’s Christian communities published by the Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Christmas.

In 2024, the Christian population grew by 0.7%.

78.7% of Christians in Israel are Arab Christians, 6.8% of the total Arab population in Israel.

Most Arab Christians live in the Northern District and Haifa District (68.3% and 14.7%, respectively).

42.0% of non-Arab Christians live in the Tel Aviv District and the Central District, 33.9% in the Northern District and the Haifa District.

The localities with the largest Arab Christian population are: Nazareth (18.9 thousand), Haifa (18.8 thousand), Jerusalem (13,400) and Nof HaGalil (10,800).

In 2024, 2,134 babies were born to Christian women, of whom about 73% were to Arab Christian women (1,568 newborns).

The average household size in Christian-headed households was estimated at 2.89 persons, lower than Jewish-headed households (3.02) and Muslim-headed households (4.35).

The average number of children up to the age of 17 in Christian families with children up to that age was 1.97, of which 1.98 in Arab Christian families. These figures are low compared to Jewish families (2.45) and Muslim families (2.58).

Education and enlightenment

In the 2024/25 school year, 26,240 Christian students studied in elementary and secondary education , representing 1.3% of all students.

87.7% of Christian students in 12th grade in 2023/24 were eligible for a matriculation certificate .

52.6% of Arab Christians and 30.3% of non-Arab Christians continued their undergraduate studies within 8 years of graduating from high school , compared to only 34.4% of all high school graduates in Arab education and 47.3% of all high school graduates in Hebrew education.

In 2024/25, there were 6,700 Christian students registered in higher education studies, which is 2.2% of all students in higher education institutions in Israel. In addition to them, another 500 Christian students studied at the Open University.

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — As part of a nationwide investigation operation, a resident of Nazareth, a resident of Be’er Sheva, and a resident of Holon were investigated by the Israel Tax Authority on suspicion of concealing crypto income totaling tens of millions of Shekels.

Igor Shargorodsky, a resident of Holon, is suspected of operating in virtual currency trading arenas abroad in large volumes in the years 2020-2024 and did not report to the tax authorities. It is also suspected that he did not report income he had from companies abroad and overall evaded reporting income totaling tens of millions of Shekels.

Another suspect being investigated is Aviv Dahan Bilevsky, a resident of Beer Sheva, who was questioned by the Jerusalem and Southern Investigations Assessment Officer. The investigation material suggests that in 2022, Bilevsky began trading cryptocurrencies and NFTs using digital wallets he owned and even presented himself as an expert in the field on social media.

According to the suspicion, between 2022 and 2025, the suspect carried out trading activities worth approximately $7 million, and did not report them to the tax authorities.

Additionally, as part of an investigation by the Haifa and Northern Investigations Tax Assessor in cooperation with the Northern Police Chief, a Nazareth resident named Ibrahim Zoabi was arrested on suspicion of evading income and violating the Money Laundering Prohibition Law.

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, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Foreign Ministry revealed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) did not cease making payments to terrorists and their families. It simply changed how such payments are made – by calling the funds “pensions.” Israel’s Foreign Minister dubbed this ‘Pay-for-Slay.’”

These payments are made to the families of terrorists held in Israeli jails and to the terrorists themselves when released from prison. They are also paid out to the families of terrorists who were killed in the course of their activities.

“The Palestinian Authority didn’t end payments to terrorists,” said the Foreign Ministry. “It camouflaged them. Money to released terrorists is now funneled through so-called ‘pensions’ tied to the Palestinian Security Services.”

“This isn’t reform,” it added. “It’s deliberate deception, Pay-for-Slay by another name.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, saying that he “admits that ‘loyalty’ to the sacrifices of Palestinian ‘martyrs,’ prisoners and wounded (all terrorists) and their families is a ‘national Palestinian commitment.’”

Sa’ar further charged that Abbas did so while “continuing to lie about ending the PA’s distorted policy of paying salaries to these despicable terrorists and their families. Instead of ending all payments, he’s disguising many of them as payments to pensioners and salaries of the PA Security Services.”

The Foreign Minister demanded that the international hold the PA accountable for “Pay for Slay.”

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The following are the end of day exchange rates as set by the Bank of Israel Wednesday, December 24, 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 | 3.1860 | ‎-0.157%
GB Pound | 1 | 4.3050 | ‎-0.158%
Japanese Yen | 100 | 2.0436 | ‎-0.147%
Euro | 1 | 3.7573 | -0.242%
AUS Dollar | 1 | 2.1386 | +0.094%
Can Dollar | 1 | 2.3309 | +0.073%
DAN Krone | 1 | 0.5030 | ‎-0.238%
NOR Krone | 1 | 0.3188 | +0.441%
SA Rand | 1 | 0.1915 | +0.209%
SWD Krona | 1 | 0.3479 | 0%
SWS Franc | 1 | 4.0497 | ‎-0.106%

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,719.65 | +0.23%
TA-90 | 3,844.61 | +078%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 3,992.57 | +0.12%
TA125 | 3,740.91 | +0.35%
Money Market | 465.15 | +0.03%
TA125-Value | 4,112.14 | +0.01%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,348.41 | +0.50%
All-Bond | 420.12 | +0.14%
Bond-CPI A | 421.69 | +0.27%
Tel-Bond 60 | 414.77 | +0.14%

Equity Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 3,630,111
Bonds Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 4,055,291

(NIS Thousands)

(NIS Thousands)

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

President Isaac Herzog today (Wednesday, 24 December 2025) issued the following Christmas message to Christians in Israel, the Middle East, and around the world: 

“Wishing all our Christian sisters and brothers in Israel, the Middle East, and around the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Jerusalem!

Ahead of the Christmas holiday, we visited our neighbors, the Franciscan Sisters, at the St. Antonio Convent in Jerusalem. We shared a prayer for peace and fraternity, and stood united against all forms of hatred and extremism.

I feel deep pride in Israel’s Christian communities, which are an integral part of our nation. The State of israel will continue to protect the freedom of worship for people of all faiths and communities.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
 

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday that Hamas continues to violate the ceasefire and U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza. Earlier in the day, an Israeli soldier in Gaza was injured when an explosive device was detonated against a military vehicle in Rafah.

One soldier was lightly injured and evacuated for treatment.

“Hamas must be held to the agreement that they signed on, which includes removal from governance, demilitarization and de-radicalization,” Netanyahu’s statement said. “Israel will respond accordingly.”

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In coordinated operations across Israel, authorities confiscated 46 vehicles, including luxury cars, from individuals with outstanding tax debts, the Tax Authority and Israel Police said.

Authorities said the operations aim to strengthen enforcement, deter evasion, and ensure accurate tax reporting.