Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Wednesday night attacked four crossings on the Syria-Lebanon border in the Al-Harmel area that are used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons.

In another attack in the Sidon area earlier today (Wednesday), the IDF eliminated terrorist Muhammad Awacha, a major weapons dealer and smuggler in the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

As part of his role, Awacha promoted and managed transfers of weapons to the terrorist organization Hezbollah, including through a shell company that ordered and transported prohibited goods from various countries, including Iraq, Syria, and Gulf states, said the IDF.

In addition, Awacha operated numerous smugglers responsible for transferring weapons from Iraq to Syria and Lebanon.

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The haifa district of the Ministry of the Interior held a signing ceremony for the establishment of a new water and sewage corporation, in cooperation with three local authorities: Or Akiva, Harish and Pardes Hanna-Karkur.

“The establishment of the joint corporation is important news for the region,” said the Ministry of the Interior. “The move will lead to strengthening the water and sewage sector, upgrading infrastructure and improving the quality of service for every resident.”

Rotem District police in the Southern District continue their operations against shooting incidents, violence, and illegal weapons possession, which could endanger human lives, with the aim of strengthening public security and maintaining the peace of law-abiding citizens.

During the week, police officers from the Shagav Shalom station, in cooperation with National Guard fighters and the K9 unit, conducted a search in the area of the town of Bir Hadaj, during which an MP-5 submachine gun was seized.

The seized weapon was transferred for further treatment and investigation at the Shagav Shalom police station.

Earlier this month, during an initiative operation in the town of Ar’ara in the Negev, detectives from the Ar’ara station identified a Honda Accord vehicle driving dangerously. After stopping the vehicle, it was found that the driver was driving without a license and without a valid insurance policy. During a search, a Glock pistol, loaded with a full magazine, was seized from the driver.

The suspect and the weapon were transferred for further treatment and investigation at the police station. Upon completion of the investigation and gathering of all evidence, a serious indictment was filed this week against the suspect by the Southern District Prosecutor’s Office.

The operational activity against crime perpetrators and criminal targets in the Bedouin sector will continue as needed, all with the aim of enforcing against any party acting in violation of the law, using a variety of investigative and intelligence means against those involved in crime and deepening governance in the South.
 

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2025, the exports of goods (excluding diamonds) amounted to 188.3 billion Shekels ($59 billion). Of the total exports of goods, exports to European countries accounted for 33%, exports to American countries 31%, exports to Asian countries 22%, and the remaining 14% to the rest of the world.

Imports of goods (excluding diamonds) amounted to 320 billion Shekels ($101 billion). 46% of imports were from European countries, 33% from Asian countries, 12% from American countries, and the remaining 9% from the rest of the world.

The trade deficit in goods trade (excluding diamonds) amounted to 131.7 billion Shekels ($41 billion).

Trend data in recent months (October – December 2025)

Exports of goods to the European Union increased by 38.1%.

Imports of goods from China fell by 5.4%.

The trade summaries published by the Central Bureau of Statistics show that exports of goods to European countries decreased by 14.7% – 11.4 billion Shekels ($) – exports of goods to the American countries decreased by 10.3% – 7.6 billion Shekels ($3.5 billion) – and exports of goods to the rest of the world group decreased by 5.9% – 1.5 billion Shekels ($470 million) -. In contrast, exports of goods to Asian countries increased by 1.2%, 0.5 billion Shekels ($156 million).

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — In recent days, 5 decommissioned Magen David Adom ambulances were transferred to the Druze medical forces in southern Syria, in full coordination and with the consent of the donors, as a humanitarian measure designed to strengthen life-saving capabilities in the Druze villages in southern Syria. The historic move began at the initiative of the Friendship Foundation, and was carried out in cooperation with Magen David Adom and the IDF.

Each of the five ambulances was equipped with medical equipment bags for paramedics and doctors, donated by the Friendship Foundation.

The ambulances will be used by residents of Druze villages in southern Syria, and were handed over in a ceremony, which included professional first aid training by Magen David Adom paramedics from the Druze community, who instructed the local Druze teams in the region in the correct and safe use of medical equipment and ambulances, with the aim of ensuring a quality and life-saving response.

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Labor continues initiatives to promote quality employment absorption for new immigrants, with another project of its kind in collaboration with the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, which is designed to grant professional licenses and job offers to immigrants even before they immigrate to Israel.

As part of the project, potential immigrants from france are identified in advance by the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, based on areas of occupation and relevant professional experience.

After preliminary mapping, candidates are invited to participate in a licensing and employment project at the Jewish Agency offices in Paris, where frontal expert committees are held by the Senior Division for the Regulation of Occupations at the Ministry of Labor.

Within the framework of the committees, the immigrants’ compliance with the professional requirements is examined, and after their approval, they are presented with job offers by the participating employers – including the Electric Company and the Air Conditioning Contractors Association – according to their specialization and the needs of the Israeli labor market.

So far, in the past year, more than 100 professional licenses have been granted to new immigrants in their country of origin, France, and in total, in the last five years, more than 1,500 professional licenses have been granted in their countries of origin and in Israel to new immigrants.

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Import Administration announced that, in accordance with applicable laws and in accordance with the announcement of the Minister of Finance, the collection of the temporary security deposit on the import of aluminum profiles and aluminum tubes in bulk from China has been discontinued. Any security deposited already paid will be returned.

Earlier this month, 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.

Jerusalem, 21 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Aidoc, a Tel Aviv-based medical AI company, has received FDA clearance for the first clinical AI that can handle multiple acute conditions at once. The solution combines 11 new and three existing indications, helping hospitals spot critical findings faster, ease imaging backlogs, and improve patient flow in busy emergency departments. Built on Aidoc’s aiOS platform, which has analyzed over 100 million patient cases, the system reduces false alerts while supporting real-world clinical use.

CEO Elad Walach said the approval “marks a new era for clinical AI.”

The National Bookkeeping Unit of the Israel Tax Authority conducted a targeted enforcement operation in the central region, during which audits were carried out at 41 businesses in the cities of Raanana, Ramat Gan, and Herzliya. Of the 41 businesses inspected, 18 were found to have failed to record income.

The operation included test purchases conducted undercover in some of the businesses. The operation targeted businesses across a variety of sectors: greengrocers, hardware stores, beauticians, lawyers, kiosks, and restaurants.

Among other cases, an audit was conducted at a greengrocer in Ramat Gan, where it was discovered that the business owner received 7,900 NIS from two customers and failed to record it in the business books, noting it only in a debtors’ ledger.

In another instance, an audit was conducted at a hair salon in Ramat Gan, which included a test purchase and an inspection of the owner’s mobile payment application. The audit revealed that the owner did not record the test purchase and also failed to record income of 1,000 NIS received via the mobile payment app. When questioned, the owner replied: “Regarding the 1,000 NIS, I wanted to give the service as a gift to the customer, but she insisted on paying and transferred it via Bit. As for the unrecorded test purchase, I have no idea why it wasn’t recorded.”

The National Bookkeeping Unit will continue to operate at any time and place to enforce the provisions of the law through routine activities and special operations, as part of the Israel Tax Authority’s extensive efforts against the “black economy” and tax evaders. This is part of a policy to increase enforcement to improve and maintain deterrence, aimed at ensuring truthful reporting and the collection of lawful tax, thereby increasing the equality of the tax burden among citizens.