Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Ministry of Transportation, through the Israel Roads Company, has begun a new pilot to strengthen transportation connectivity in the western negev and the Negev Highlands, through the establishment of “Park and Ride” parking lots, shared parking lots, and “Kiss and Ride” (Drop-off and Go) bays. The project is designed to create transportation service centers that will improve the travel experience, increase the use of public transportation, and contribute to reducing traffic congestion and overcrowding at central stations.

The pilot will be in three locations: Shaar Hanegev, Gilat Junction, and Arara in the Negev. The locations were selected based on operational feasibility, high immigrant concentration, proximity to major traffic routes, and accessibility to existing public transportation, with the goal of creating efficient connection points between private vehicles and public transportation.

As part of the pilot, unique adjustments were made to the national transportation model to predict parking usage patterns. The adjustments allow for a distinction between users who will leave their private vehicles and continue their journey using public transportation, and users who will leave their vehicles and continue their journey using a shared vehicle. This combination allows for a more accurate assessment of demand, onward movements, and impacts on the road network and public transportation.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The government approved the appointment of Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron Tal as the Chairman of the Airports Authority Council, as well as Director of the Aviation Safety Investigation Authority at the ministry of Transport. The appointment is for a four-year term.

“Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yiftach Ron Tal brings with him many years of experience in public service, in managing large organizations, and in key positions in the defense and civilian systems,” said the ministry in a statement.

Among his previous positions, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Israel Electric Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Israel Ports Company, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Model – a Defense Company, as well as in senior command positions in the IDF, including Commander of the Ground Force.

The search committee noted that Ron Tal is a “candidate with appropriate qualifications, extensive managerial and professional experience in the fields of infrastructure and safety, and that he is suitable for the challenges facing the Airports Authority, including managing a complex aviation system, maintaining a high level of safety, and promoting the development of civil aviation in Israel.”

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said it has begun what it called a targeted operation in the Yellow Line area in the northern Gaza Strip, in order to recover the remains of the last missing Israeli hostage in Gaza, the late Sargent Major Ran Gvili.

The operation is dubbed “Brave Heart.”

The IDF Spokesperson called on the public to refrain from spreading rumors and unfounded information that could harm the Gvili family and efforts to recover him Gvili’s remains.

The IDF said it will “continue to exert all efforts until Sargent Major Ran Gvili is returned for burial in the State of Israel.”

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Office released a statement Sunday evening saying that, since the weekend, Israel’s military forces have been conducting what it called a “large-scale operation” to locate the remains of the last missing Israeli hostage in Gaza, Sargent Major Ran Gvili.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the operation is taking place in a cemetery in the northern Gaza Strip, and “extensive scanning operations are being carried out there, while exhausting all the intelligence information in our possession,” adding that “this effort will continue as long as necessary.”

“The State of Israel is determined to return Ran Gvili to the grave of Israel,” declared the PMO.

His family is continuously updated and is aware of the details of the operation.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Bank of Israel’s Banking Supervision Department today submitted its periodic report on the prices of common banking services for households to the Knesset’s Economics Committee. The report is based on data from banks and credit card companies on fees charged during the first half of 2025.

The following are the main points of the report:

During the period covered by the report, the war continued, due to which the Bank of Israel formulated programs to assist the public. These events had no further observable effects on the data in the report relative to the previous report.

During the reviewed period, there was a slight increase in the overall ratio between total fee income and total assets from 0.69% to 0.71%. The increase was mainly due to higher fee revenue from large businesses and an increase in revenue from securities activity by individuals and small businesses.

During the reviewed period, total revenue from fees collected from households and small businesses totaled 3.1 billion Shekels ($980,000). Most of the banks’ income from fees can from securities, current account, and payment card fees.

New information regarding the distribution of credit card company fee income was added through his report from the second quarter of 2025. Total revenue from fees that the credit card companies charged households and small businesses in the second quarter of 2025 totaled about 600 million Shekels ($191 million).

The average fee for managing a current account and holding a payment card in a household account was 31.5 Shekels ($10)per month during the period, compared with 29.1 Shekels ($9.25) per month per account in 2024.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israeli organization COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip) refuted claims made by the UN that people are starving in Gaza.

“The UN recycling false narratives for political and financial reasons once again,” said COGAT, which also pointed to the latest IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report, which was based on partial data, that showed an improvement in the situation in the Gaza Strip.

“So how exactly do you explain claims of “80% of people facing hunger” when 600–800 trucks loaded mostly with food enter Gaza every day?” asked the Agency.

“At some point, messaging has to match reality,” it added. “We suggest checking the facts on the ground with your own representatives at the CMCC who see a totally different situation, before recycling disproven claims.”

Earlier, the UN stated without evidence that “Living conditions in Gaza remain dire, with nearly 80% of people facing hunger and dependent on humanitarian aid for survival.”

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — the annual mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), its routine discussions on developments in the Israeli economy, opened today (January 25, 2026).

At the conclusion of the meetings, the mission will publish its concluding statement. Afterwards, a detailed annual report will be prepared and submitted to the IMF’s Executive Board for its consideration, as is standard practice for every member country.

The mission is headed by Mr. Kotaro Ishi.

As with every such visit, explained the bank of israel, the mission will hold consultations with decision-makers on the economy, both in the public and private sectors. For example, the mission will meet with senior officials from the bank of israel and the ministry of Finance, as well as with senior officials from various government ministries, commercial banks, and private sector representatives.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed that one of the five new communities planned for the Negev be named “Renanim,” in memory of the last Israeli held hostage in Gaza, and hero of Israel, the late Ran Gvili (of blessed memory). The government of Israel today, Sunday, announced its plans for the five new towns.

“During my visit to the Negev about two weeks ago, I declared: We will advance the Negev along several paths, one of which is Jewish settlement, and this Government is doing much in this regard,” said Netanyahu.”

“There is a tremendous momentum of both action and pride, and it continues today in this important meeting that brings massive news to the Negev and to our plans to continue developing the region,” he added. “This is a monumental settlement announcement: Five community settlements in the eastern area of the Be’er Sheva metropolitan area. This is important in many respects.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed that one of the communities be named “Renanim,” in memory of the last hostage, and hero of Israel, the late Ran Gvili (of blessed memory)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today:

“During my visit to the Negev about two weeks ago, I declared: We will advance the Negev along several paths, one of which is Jewish settlement, and this Government is doing much in this regard. The first thing I can say is that the stigma is fading. People didn’t used to say ‘I’m from Dimona,’ but today they say ‘I’m from Dimona.’ Today they say ‘I’m from Kiryat Gat’, a major city in Israel. ‘I’m from Ashkelon.’ Where is our Ashkelonian? (Minister Dichter). Well, maybe you always said it, but today everyone does.

There is a tremendous momentum of both action and pride, and it continues today in this important meeting that brings massive news to the Negev and to our plans to continue developing the region. This is a monumental settlement announcement: Five community settlements in the eastern area of the Be’er Sheva metropolitan area. This is important in many respects.

Mr. Government Secretary and ministers, I propose to the Government Secretary and the Ministers that one of the communities be named ‘Renanim’, after the hero of Israel, the late Ran Gvili, whom we are working with immense effort, at this very moment, to bring back.

We said that we would not only act for settlement, but we would also act to restore law and order to the South. We are not relenting on this; it is a fundamental part of the profound change we must make in the southern part of the country. There will be no ‘Wild West’ here. We have allocated resources for this, involved the ISA, and we will continue to do much more. This is part of a grand vision that also includes organizing for the Arab residents and citizens in the Negev; they too deserve all the fruits of this development, and it will be done through an integrated plan. But today, we are delivering news of a great community settlement breakthrough.”