Tzepi Friedkin, Director of the Produce, Markets, and Environment Division at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: “The new pilot will connect the field to the community and Israeli agriculture to a national social mission. This is an important pilot for examining the streamlining of food rescue and the reduction of food loss, which will allow for an increase in the volume of rescued produce, shorten and streamline processes, and reduce environmental damage resulting from food landfilling.”

In a reality where 2.6 million tons of food are thrown away in Israel every year – food rescue and the reduction of food loss are important and central issues. To reduce food loss and prevent unnecessary landfilling of unrescued food, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in cooperation with the “Leket Israel” organization, is launching an innovative pilot these days aimed at examining the rescue of surplus agricultural produce from farmers across the country and its transfer to those in need. 

The pilot, which will be launched as part of the implementation of the principles of the National Food Security Program 2050, is based on the development of a GIS-based application that will allow farmers to report in real-time on surplus produce arising in the field or packing house, and will enable the “Leket Israel” organization to reach and rescue it. Thus, thousands of kilograms of edible produce, which might have been sent to landfill, will be transferred to those in need, helping to increase the accessibility of many and diverse populations to fresh, healthy, and nutritious food. Beyond its significant social contribution, the pilot is also expected to reduce the environmental damage caused by food landfilling and strengthen the connection between farmers and the community.

Until this initiative, the farmers’ reporting system to the organization was based on telephone contact, which involved lengthy processing times and high operational costs. The new application will allow a transition from a reactive system to a proactive and digital system, thereby enabling more efficient response, shorter collection times, and ensuring that the produce collected will be fresher and have a longer shelf life. 

The pilot integrates with the interim goals of the National Food Security Program, which aims to ensure by 2050 a regular supply of healthy, diverse, and affordable food for all residents of the country, while promoting sustainable local agriculture. In particular, the development of the application is the product of the work of one of the six working groups that formulated the program, the Food Loss group, which recommended providing incentives and raising awareness for reducing loss and rescuing food through the implementation of technologies and practices to reduce losses along the value chain. One of the program’s goals in this context is to reduce food lost per person by 20% by 2035, and by 50% by 2050. 

Gidi Kroch, CEO of Leket Israel: “After more than 20 years of activity, we are excited to launch today together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development the new application for rescuing surplus agricultural produce. This is an important step that will connect farmers to the community, enable advanced and innovative and efficient management of the food collection process. The application will contribute to reducing food loss alongside strengthening food security and reducing environmental damage. I thank the Ministry of Agriculture for the significant cooperation.”

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Magen David Adom says its emergency responders have treated or referred 30 Children to hospitals in jerusalem following a suspected gas leak in a Jerusalem kindergarten. This includes two babies about four months old in critical condition.

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Twelve toddlers were injured in a suspected carbon monoxide leak at a Jerusalem kindergarten on Monday. Two infants, aged six months and four months, are in critical condition and receiving CPR at Shaare Zedek and Hadassah Mount Scopus hospitals.

Authorities believe the poisoning originated from a gas leak in the kindergarten’s air conditioning unit. An investigation is ongoing.

The Ministry of Health reports on a jackal infected with Rabies near Moshav Menachemya, in the Jordan Valley Regional Council. One person exposed to the jackal has been referred for preventive treatment against Rabies. The notification about the infected jackal was received yesterday, January 18, 2026.

We request that anyone who came into contact with the sick jackal or a stray animal, or whose animals came into contact with the jackal or a stray animal in the area, between the dates 01.01.2026 to 15.01.26 inclusive, to urgently contact the Kinneret Health Bureau, telephone 04-6710300, or the Health Bureau closest to their place of residence, so that professionals can assess the need for preventive treatment. In the evenings and during the weekend, please go to the emergency room at a hospital.

Additionally, parents are asked to check with their children if they have come into contact with suspicious animals, and to urgently contact the Health Bureau if necessary.

Furthermore, pet owners are requested to contact the municipal veterinarian to verify if their animal has been vaccinated.

The Ministry of Health requests that information about the incident be disseminated to visitors in the area and in neighboring communities.

The Ministry of Health reminds again that anyone bitten or scratched by an animal should immediately wash the area with running water and soap, disinfect with antiseptic materials, and as mentioned, contact the Health Bureau to check if preventive treatment against Rabies is necessary.

• Guidelines after an injury by an animal suspected of having Rabies

Job Description

A candidate is required for a student position, years 1-3, in the Senior Department of the Spatial Planning Division in Jerusalem, for:

• Assisting professional staff in the unit with various tasks.
• Internship in the unit’s specific field of occupation and integrating partial academic knowledge to promote
• The subjects within the scope of responsibility.
• Assisting in systematically maintaining databases, as well as searching for and collecting information, including producing
• Reports according to the supervisors’ instructions.
• Assisting in developing methods and tools for work management and their implementation.
• Assisting with administrative work.
• Performing additional tasks as needed and according to the supervisor’s instructions.

Job Requirements

Threshold Requirements:
A student studying at an institution of higher education recognized by the Council for Higher Education
or at a vocational training institution for engineers and technicians supervised by the Labor Branch,
including a student studying for an additional bachelor’s degree or an additional master’s degree,
or a student studying for a doctorate recognized by the Council for Higher Education.
A student studying in a pre-academic preparatory program.
A student studying in a completion year for a master’s degree, or a student studying at an institution
of higher education in a completion year for accounting certification.

Additional Desired Qualifications:
• High-level knowledge of Hebrew and English, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge and experience working with databases.
• Knowledge and experience with Office software or other relevant information systems.
• Organizational skills, efficiency, and ability to work under pressure.
• Service awareness and ability to work in a team.

Scope of Position

The position is for up to 120 hours per month

Application Details

Please send your CV along with proof of studies to the email:  OraSu@iplan.gov.il and specify in the subject line “CV Submission for Student Position“
by 02/03/2026. Only suitable applications will be answered.

Notes

* The employment scope for a veteran citizen will be up to 120 hours per month, according to the needs and budget of the Ministry.
** The duration of employment in a veteran citizen position is up to three years, which can be extended by an additional two to three years, totaling 6 years with the approval of the Civil Service Commission. This period includes all periods of employment in a veteran citizen position in the civil service, including periods of employment in a veteran citizen position in other government ministries.
* Preference will be given to academic education in Geography/Architecture/Urban and Regional Planning.
* Experience in planning and construction fields is required.

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Two Israeli citizens residing in Ramla, Chalaf Muhammad Hussein Abu Jamm and Mudi Akram Taleb Ghanem, were arrested in recent weeks for setting vehicles on fire and shooting at an occupied residential building in the city of Ramla, where Jewish families reside in the city.

An investigation by the Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service) revealed that the two deliberately carried out the shooting and the arson with the aim of sending a message to the security forces against the enforcement being carried out in the city, and in order to instill fear in them.

Today, an indictment was filed against the two in the Lod District Court.

Ramla is a mixed Jewish and Arab city known for being low-income in nature and for being a center of reputed criminal gangs.

Jerusalem, 19 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee on Monday approved for second and third readings a sweeping amendment to the Families of Soldiers Who Died in the Campaign Law, significantly expanding benefits for IDF and security forces orphans, widows and bereaved parents.

The reform raises the age of orphanhood to 30, extends monthly benefits for orphans up to age 40, and provides new grants, personal accompaniment programs, mental health care without age limits, and assistance with education, housing and fertility treatments. The amendment is expected to cost around NIS 500 million ($156.3 million) in its first year.

Jerusalem, 18 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The government of Israel approved a reform to streamline the development of tourism infrastructure with a merger of two government tourism companies that it said will save millions of Shekels. The Old Acre and Nazareth Development Company will be folded into the Government Tourism Company (HTC).

The consolidated company will operate under the Government Tourism Company and will serve as one central government executive arm of the Ministry of Tourism, in accordance with its policy and budget. This will be in the areas of tourism infrastructure development, tourism preservation and maintenance, including heritage sites and urban assets of historical value in Acre and Nazareth.

In addition, it was decided that the Dead Sea Protection Company (DSPC) will cease to engage in tourism infrastructure and will serve as an implementation arm of the Ministry of Finance, while focusing its activities on the necessary protections in the Dead Sea area. Consequently, no new tourism infrastructure development projects will be transferred to it, unless they are integrated into projects required for the protection of the Dead Sea. In addition, an inter-ministerial team will be established to decide on the completion of projects currently being carried out by the company.

Jerusalem, 18 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said one of its units recently (Sunday evening) identified a suspect in southwestern Lebanon who approached the border fence with the State of Israel.

Since the moment of identification, IDF forces have been continuously monitoring the suspect. In addition, forces have been deployed to the area and a tank and helicopter gunship were used to eliminate the threat.

Activity in the area continues.

The IDF is in continuous contact with the authorities and will update on any developments.