Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The government approved the multi-year plan for the rehabilitation and development of the settlements on the confrontation line in the north. As part of the plan, the Ministry of Environmental Protection will allocate 154 million Shekels ($48 million) for extensive environmental rehabilitation, including the treatment of agricultural waste, the restoration of streams and open areas, the prevention of asbestos hazards, and the strengthening of supervision and enforcement systems in the northern settlements.

The decision joins a series of previous government decisions in which the ministry allocated significant budgets totaling approximately 65 million Shekels ($20 million) to address hazards and environmental rehabilitation in the north. The decision will allow for the first time multi-year planning and continuous implementation of in-depth environmental measures in the confrontation line area.

“The government decision shapes, for the first time, a clear multi-year environmental plan for the confrontation line area, combining designated budgets from the ministry and the Cleanliness Fund, the Water Authority, and the Nature and Parks Authority. This is an infrastructure for long-term rehabilitation, ensuring safer, healthier, and more resilient communities,” said the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In order to strengthen public transportation in the north of Israel, for the first time the Ministry of Transportation published a tender for the operation of public transportation lines in the Haifa and Nesher areas, which will include a significant expansion of the public transportation network, increased frequencies, and strengthening transportation connections in the Haifa metropolitan area and adapting the planning to the needs of the residents.

The announcement of the tender is intended to enable the addition of new service lines, increasing frequency, expanding the bus fleet and improving the level of service for passengers, with the aim of making public transportation more accessible, reliable and efficient, and offering the public a worthy alternative to private vehicles.

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that the country’s trade deficit in goods (excluding diamonds) amounted to 10.4 billion Shekels ($3.2 billion) in November 2025.

Exports of goods (excluding diamonds) amounted to 16.1 billion Shekels ($5 billion). Of the total exports of goods, exports to European countries accounted for 33%, exports to American countries 33%, exports to Asian countries 20%, and the remaining 14% to the rest of the world.

Imports of goods (excluding diamonds) amounted to 26.5 billion Shekels ($8.3 billion). 47% of imports were from European countries, 33% from Asian countries, 11% from American countries, and the remaining 9% from the rest of the world.

Trend data in recent months (September – November 2025)

Exports of goods to the European Union increased by 22.3%.

Imports of goods from China fell by 19.0%.

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — A new pilot by the Ministry, which will be launched in 2026, will allow applications to be submitted for a recommendation to employ foreign workers by providers of essential services to agricultural farms for processing agricultural land, treatment services for farm animals, and sorting and packaging services for fresh agricultural produce.

The ministry expects that the move will provide a solution to the shortage of manpower in these sectors, with the aim of ensuring the continuity of agricultural production and food security in Israel.

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The government approved Monday what it called another step to reduce the cost of living in Israel – the amendment to the Law on Licensing Services and Professions in the Automotive Industry.

The amendment, which was formulated by the Ministry of Transportation, in cooperation with the Taxation Division and approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs, is being promoted through an accelerated process and is intended to increase competition in vehicle imports, open it to additional players, and lead to lower vehicle prices.

It removes a major competitive barrier that has so far prevented indirect, small, and personal importers from enjoying customs preferences in accordance with the State of Israel’s international trade agreements.

Until now, only direct importers could exercise a 7% customs duty exemption, a situation that reduced competition and raised prices for the public.

The new law will allow the Tax Authority to apply the benefit also to importers who are not direct, thus helping to expand parallel and personal imports, increase competition, and reduce consumer prices.

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The following are the end of day exchange rates as set by the Bank of Israel Tuesday, December 23, 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 | 3.1910 | ‎-0.468%
GB Pound | 1 | 4.3118 | +0.144%
Japanese Yen | 100 | 2.0466 | ‎-0.471%
Euro | 1 | 3.7664 | +0.072%
AUS Dollar | 1 | 2.1366 | +0.296%
Can Dollar | 1 | 2.3292 | +0.034%
DAN Krone | 1 | 0.5042 | +0.06%
NOR Krone | 1 | 0.3174 | +0.221%
SA Rand | 1 | 0.1911 | ‎-0.417%
SWD Krona | 1 | 0.3479 | +0.317%
SWS Franc | 1 | 4.0540 | +0.352%

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,711.25 | +0.07%
TA-90 | 3,814.82 | +0.31%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 3,987.60 | -0.29%
TA125 | 3,727.87 | +0.12%
Money Market | 465.02 | +0.02%
TA125-Value | 4,111.76 | -0.67%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,326.83 | +0.16%
All-Bond | 419.53 | +0.06%
Bond-CPI A | 420.54 | +0.14%
Tel-Bond 60 | 414.18 | +0.09%

Equity Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 4,247,489
Bonds Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 3,705,975

(NIS Thousands)

(NIS Thousands)

Jerusalem, 23 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said it foiled an attempt to smuggle 40 pistols through Israel’s eastern border through the use of a drone. However, the IDF did not provide any further details such as the exact location where this occurred.

After the drone was identification crossing the border, IDF forces shot it down and located the 40 pistols.

We, Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, and Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, convened today in Jerusalem for the 10th trilateral summit among our countries.
Our Trilateral Cooperation
We recognize that our region stands at a historic juncture, with the opportunity to usher in an era of stability, prosperity, and cooperation stretching from India, through the Middle East and the EasternMediterranean, to Europe. This joint vision for progress, security, stability and peace is founded on respect for the historic heritage of the peoples it connects, their common interests, and shared values.

Today’s trilateral summit reaffirms our unwavering commitment to strengthen our cooperation, enhancing the security and resilience of our nations for generations to come.

We agree to convene an annual Leaders’ Summit and to intensify ministerial and working-level trilateral meetings, thereby deepening cooperation and expanding joint initiatives. 

We also reaffirm the importance of the 3+1 format with the United States and invite other like-minded partners to join our framework in a 3+1 format.
Security, Counterterrorism, and Maritime Cooperation

To ensure the realization of this vision, we reaffirm the need for concerted action to overcome existing and emerging challenges.

In this regard, we agree to reinforce our ongoing trilateral cooperation on security, defense and military matters.
We reaffirm our commitment to combatting terrorism, including efforts to eradicate the financing of terrorist activities. 
We underscore the importance of maritime security and pledge to deepen collaboration in safeguarding sea lanes and critical infrastructure against emerging threats. We welcome the establishment of the Maritime Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (MCCE) in Cyprus, and its planned inauguration in 2026.

We acknowledge the significant and consistent contributions by Cyprus and Greece to humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including through the Amalthea maritime corridor which is implemented in coordination between Cyprus and Israel and in close cooperation with international partners, in line with the 2720 Mechanism, for the delivery of additional aid. 

We reiterate the importance of President Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, which was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, and call for the immediate return of the last remaining Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, and disarmament of Hamas in accordance with the agreed framework.

We commend the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center for Gaza (CMCC), in which Cyprus and Greece participate, for achieving, with facilitation by Israel, the milestone for movement of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Gaza. 

We are determined to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches civilians safely, only through the coordinated channels and without being abused by malign actors.

We reiterate Israel’s right to self-defense in accordance with international law and reject unfounded allegations against Israel.  
Emergency Response Cooperation
We agree to establish a Trilateral Working Group on Emergency Preparedness and Response, ensuring rapid and effective mutual assistance in natural disasters. We welcome the initiative to establish the

Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station, which aims to enhance regional preparedness and response capacities particularly as regards wildfires.

We will establish a Working Group on Health, strengthening cooperation among our medical institutions in research, innovation, and emergency response.
We further underline the importance of our extensive cooperation in environmental protection and addressing climate change. Our relevant authorities will begin the necessary work on trilateral memoranda of understanding on water and wastewater management and on addressing climate change. 

We recall our Implementation Agreement on the Sub-regional Marine Oil Pollution Contingency Plan and agree to hold a joint exercise in 2026 addressing maritime pollution incidents.
Energy, Connectivity, and Regional Prosperity
We reaffirm our determination to advance joint energy projects, including natural gas development, electricity interconnectors, and renewable energy initiatives, as a solid foundation for cooperation in the

region, based on international law, including the law of the sea and the respect of all states to exercise their rights in their respective EEZ/Continental Shelf.
We welcomed the recent Joint Statement on the 3+1 Energy Ministerial in Greece in November 2025 with the participation of the United States, and the commitment to promoting energy security and

cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, including through the Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center, as a key to regional strategic stability and resilience.
We express strong commitment to the Great Sea Interconnector project and agree to work together to advance it.
We will collaborate to promote regional interconnectivity projects, those currently in progress and future ones, within the context of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), including by

establishing working level groups which will convene on a regular basis to realize this strategic objective.
Science, Technology, and Innovation
We agree to further enhance trilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation, including through the establishment of a framework to promote joint research initiatives, and to improve

coordination in accessing EU Horizon programs and other external funding sources.
We will establish a Working Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation, to promote reliable application of AI across mission-critical civilian verticals, high-level

computing infrastructure and capacity building.
European and Regional Cooperation
We welcome the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union as an opportunity to enhance cooperation in the Southern Neighborhood, including the Eastern Mediterranean, including

contributing to strengthen relations between the European Union and Israel and realize their potential as key partners. 
The strengthening and widening of the circle of peace between Israel and the Arab world holds the promise for a more secure and prosperous region. We reaffirm our commitment to expanding the Abraham

Accords and agree to intensify joint efforts, together with the United States and other partners, to achieve this goal.
We welcome the recent progress in the dialogue between Israel and Lebanon, adding an economic dimension to the security dialogue. We support the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Lebanon, and the importance of ensuring the monopoly of the use of force under legitimate state institutions, in accordance with the decision of the Lebanese Government, UN Security Council resolutions,

and the November 2024 understandings agreed to by Israel and Lebanon through US mediation, which could open the path towards normalization between Lebanon and Israel. 
We highlight the special significance of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and recall the inherent and deep historical bonds of the Jewish people to its historical

homeland. We reiterate our commitment to preserving the Status Quo at the Holy Sites of Jerusalem and stress our strong interest in upholding the presence and heritage of the Christian Churches.
In light of the global surge in antisemitism, including the recent appalling terrorist attacks against Jewish worshipers in Sydney and Manchester, we reaffirm our determination to fight antisemitism in all its forms, including calls for Israel’s destruction and denial of its right to exist.

We also reiterate the importance of religious freedoms, including freedom of worship, and our respective obligations therefrom. 
We express our full and unwavering support for a just, comprehensive, and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Such a solution, which would reunify the island on the basis of respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, would not only benefit the people of Cyprus in its entirety,

but would also significantly contribute to peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.
People-to-People Ties

We commit to deepening cultural, educational, and academic exchanges, fostering mutual understanding and friendship among our societies.

We agree to accelerate implementation of existing agreements on environmental education and youth exchanges.

We will enhance cooperation on diaspora relations, utilizing the great potential and vital role of our communities across the globe in strengthening ties among our nations.