The amended indictment, filed by Adv. Daniel Gilad from the Southern District Attorney’s Office, to which the defendants confessed, states that over a period of time, the two operated a systematic network to obtain matriculation exam questionnaires in real-time and distribute solutions to hundreds of examinees, in approximately 20 different matriculation exams, for a fee.

To this end, they used social networks under pseudonyms, recruited an exam proctor who photographed and transmitted the questionnaires to them during the exams, operated a collection system designed to disguise the source of the funds, and even instructed students on how to smuggle electronic devices into the exam rooms. In total, the defendants generated profits amounting to approximately ₪600,000.

In accordance with their confession, the defendants were convicted of offenses of obtaining something by fraud under aggravated circumstances, tax offenses, and money laundering.

During the sentencing arguments, Adv. Gilad argued that the defendants severely harmed the integrity of the exams, public order, the principle of equality, and public trust in the education system.

It was further argued that their actions harmed the education of youth and moral and integrity values, as they provided fraudulent services to minors and school students.

In the verdict, Judge Alon Gabizon stated: “Since the defendants called upon minors and high school students to cheat on matriculation exams, their actions also constitute harm to the values of education and integrity. The message of copying in exams and illegal ‘shortcuts’ is worthy of condemnation, and even more so when it is conveyed to young people.”

The judge further noted: “The defendants’ great audacity highlights the severity of their actions. The defendants, as well as the other conspirators, did not hesitate to use social networks and digital media to reach a large number of students, turning the internet space into an accessible and convenient platform for criminal activity… The defendants did not hesitate to distribute a TikTok video in which they offered fraudulent services.” And that the defendants’ actions indicate a blatant disregard for state institutions and norms of law observance.

In light of the foregoing, the court sentenced Shorouk Tzaluk to 44 months of actual imprisonment, a suspended sentence, and a fine of ₪300,000; and Wafa Tzaluk was sentenced to 36 months of actual imprisonment, a suspended sentence, and a fine of ₪250,000.

The third defendant, Majd Suad, who worked as a matriculation exam proctor, was convicted in accordance with his confession of the offense of aiding in obtaining something by fraud, and was sentenced to 400 hours of community service and a suspended sentence.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli police arrested a man at Ben Gurion Airport after finding eight pistols in his luggage, authorities announced on Thursday.

In what police said was a carefully planned undercover operation, officers tracked the suspect, a resident of Be’er Yaakov, as he retrieved his luggage after arriving on a flight from Germany on Wednesday night.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli digital asset infrastructure company Fireblocks has acquired TRES Finance, a Tel Aviv–based enterprise platform for financial reporting and audit-ready blockchain data. The move aims to create the first unified operating system for onchain finance, allowing institutions to manage transactions, reconciliation, and compliance within a single workflow. Financial details of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

TRES, which serves more than 200 organizations including U.S.-based Alchemy, Swiss Bank Frick, and global firms like PwC, will integrate its financial intelligence into Fireblocks’ secure platform. Together, they seek to provide scalable, compliant, and end-to-end solutions for institutional digital asset operations worldwide.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Defense Ministry and military completed the distribution of thousands of domestically produced ARAD rifles to civilian rapid response teams nationwide, concluding a $31 million procurement program aimed at strengthening community-level security and operational readiness.

The rifles, manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries, are part of a broader effort to standardize equipment and rely on local defense production.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli computational chemistry company Evogene Ltd. has partnered with Boston-based Unravel Biosciences to develop a first-in-class therapy aimed at repairing neurological damage in demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

The collaboration combines Evogene’s AI-driven ChemPass platform for generative small-molecule design with Unravel’s patient-derived BioNAV system and Living Molecular Twins. Together, they aim to identify and optimize brain-penetrant molecules capable of restoring myelin and reversing neurological degeneration—an unmet need in current treatments that focus only on slowing disease progression. Clinical applications could extend to other complex neurodegenerative conditions.

The Unit for the Coordination of the Struggle Against human trafficking in the Ministry of Justice is issuing a warning against conducting surrogacy procedures in Ukraine.

The Unit’s recommendation is to refrain from carrying out surrogacy procedures in Ukraine at this stage, in order to prevent harm and damage to surrogate mothers, intended parents, and newborn infants, and to prevent difficulties and problems in legal proceedings down the line.

To read the full announcement on the website of the Unit for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Human Trafficking

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — As thousands of Kurds flee fighting in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the Syrian government for shelling two Kurdish neighborhoods.

“The attacks by Syrian regime forces on the Kurdish minority in the city of Aleppo are serious and dangerous. The international community in general and the West in particular have a debt of honor towards the Kurds who fought fiercely and successfully against ISIS,” Sa’ar tweeted.

“Systematic and murderous oppression of the various minorities in Syria contradicts the promises for a ‘new Syria.’ Silence on the part of the international community will lead to an escalation of violence by the Syrian regime.”

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, announced the winner of the israel prize in the field of plastic arts, painting, sculpture and photography is the artist Yaakov Agam.

The award committee noted in its reasoning that Yaakov Agam’s work echoes a long-standing contribution to Israeli and international art over the past seven decades. According to it, Agam broke through the boundaries of plastic art as it was known and renewed the languages of kinetic art and op art.

The committee also noted that the central innovative element in his work over the years is the idea of internal change, both in the body of the work itself and from the changing perspective of the viewer. His works combine visual elements with musical elements in movement in space and time, reflecting a dynamic and renewing reality. His work expresses a concept according to which art must be mobile and changing, just as reality itself is constantly created and shaped.

The Israel Prize is the most important and prestigious award given in the state of Israel. The awards will be presented on the evening of the 78th Independence Day of the State of Israel.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich informed the Minister of Economy Nir Barkat of his opposition to imposing an anti-dumping duty on aluminum imports from China and decision to block the move. The decision, said Smotrich’s office, was made after examining the macroeconomic implications, and with the understanding that the duty would severely damage the construction industry, delay the delivery of thousands of apartments, and increase the cost of living.