Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel hit an all-time travel record with 361,255 passengers on 675 passenger trains that were operated on its railways last Thursday.

The previous record was also recorded in 2025 with 357,773 passengers on March 16, 2025.

“This figure continues the upward trend in passenger numbers recorded in the past year, and is the result of the introduction of new cars into operation, additional trains, and the operation of modern, high-capacity electric trains that carry up to 2,000 passengers,” said the Ministry of Transportation. “These, along with other projects to expand the track infrastructure and lengthen trains, are significantly and continuously improving the supply of seating.”

Israel Railways notes that demand in 2025 was the highest ever and that the five operating days with the highest passenger numbers were all recorded in 2025, with three of the five recorded during the current Hanukkah holiday.

In October 2025, an all-time record was recorded in the average daily travel with 298 thousand passengers, the highest daily travel figure recorded during this period.

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today, Sunday, in his office in Jerusalem with US Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican, South Carolina).

Prime Minister Netanyahu, at the beginning of the meeting, called Graham a, “great friend of Israel and a dear personal friend. We have no better friends than him. Welcome.”

“I came here with a goal – we had a lot of achievements in 2025,” said Graham. “I want to make sure that 2026 will be a year of peace and of beating the bad guy.”

“My impression is that Hamas is not disarming, it is rearming,” he added. “My impression is that they are trying to establish their control over Gaza, not give it up. And my impression is also that Hezbollah is trying to produce more weapons. This is an unacceptable result.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded:

“You’re right about both things. You’re usually right. I could also say always, but you have to leave a certain margin.”

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — With an investment of approximately 35 million Shekels ($10.9 million), the Ministry of Transportation, through Netivei Israel, is promoting the connection of the new transportation terminal in Or Yehuda to Highway 412, a regional road in the south-east of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area.

The Ministry called this, “a significant infrastructure project that will enable a full, safe and continuous transportation connection between the terminal and the national road network, and will improve traffic flow and accessibility in the area.”

The transportation terminal, which includes an operational parking lot for 75 buses, is under construction and is scheduled to be completed at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — One month into Operation “New Order” in the Negev, initiated to combat violent crime in Arab communities, over 300 suspects have been arrested for questioning, hundreds of illegal residents were arrested and deported, 67 indictments were filed for possession and use of stolen military weapons and violent offenses, 39 criminals were removed from the Negev.

There was a 93% decrease in shooting incidents in the Bedouin diaspora.

Also, 70 stolen military weapons, an RPG, dozens of cartridges, explosive devices, and over 50,000 rounds of ammunition were seized.

In addition, 23 kilograms of various types of drugs were seized, 42 suspects were arrested on suspicion of possession and trafficking drugs, over 200 vehicles were impounded, and extensive traffic enforcement was carried out, in the framework of which 2,190 reports of life-threatening offenses were recorded.

As part of Operation “New Order,” 7,945 police officers have operated so far, with the assistance of 62 dogs, 23 drones, and 40 cavalry, from Southern District units, including the Yoav Unit, Southern National Guard, Border Patrol, Naval Unit, Unit 33, the Motorcycle Patrol, and the Air Unit.
In addition, seven police officers were injured, and three attempted runovers and additional life-threatening escape incidents were carried out.

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s’ Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in the 12 month period of October 2024-September 2025, permits were issued for the building of approximately 81,560 new apartments; an increase of 10.9% compared to the previous 12 months (October 2023-September 2024).

Of the total apartments for which permits were issued, 25.3% were in the Central District, 22.8% in the Tel Aviv District, and 16.6% in the Southern District.

Construction Starts and Completions – October 2024-September 2025
Construction Starts:

In the 12 months October 2024-September 2025, construction of approximately 81,020 apartments began; an increase of 31.5% compared to the previous 12 months (October 2023-September 2024).

93.2% of the apartments that began construction are additional apartments to the economy. That is, net construction starts amount to approximately 75,540 apartments (approximately 5,480 existing apartments were demolished).

About a quarter of total construction starts were in the Central District (24.7%), about a fifth in the Tel Aviv District (21.6%), and 17.5% in the Southern District.

Apartments whose construction has begun, by district October 2024-September 2025:
72.1% of the apartments whose construction has begun were built for sale, of which 15.0% were government subsidized (approximately 8,760 apartments).

The largest number of apartments with government subsidy was in the Central District – approximately 3,610 apartments, followed by the Southern District – 2,220 apartments (41.2% and 25.3% of all apartments being built with government subsidy, respectively).

27.9% of the apartments that began construction were built for sale, of which 50.9% were self-built, 19.3% were combined and 19.0% were rented.

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing has published regulations for the establishment of a new contracting branch for traffic arrangements for public comments which will for the first time regulate the activities of contractors in the field of traffic management and road safety.

The new branch will, for the first time, regulate the activities of contractors who perform work in the field of traffic management, placing traffic signs, road markings, fencing, safety barriers, concrete separations, and more. This is a contracting branch that has a direct impact on public safety, which has not been regulated in an official framework for registering contractors.

This move, said the Ministry, is expected to “ensure binding professional standards, improve the quality of execution and safety, and enable effective supervision of contractors operating in the field. In addition, it is expected to open the market to fair competition, which will also allow small and medium-sized companies to participate in public tenders.”

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices Sunday, December 21, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,681.73 | +0.55%
TA-90 | 3,809.98 | +0.48%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 3,983.62 | +0.03%
TA125 | 3,704.38 | +0.55%
Money Market | 464.87 | +0.02%
TA125-Value | 4,120.49 | +0.31%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,312.49 | +0.63%
All-Bond | 419.38 | +0.04%
Bond-CPI A | 419.82 | +0.10%
Tel-Bond 60 | 413.86 | +0.06%

Equity Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 1,273,563
Bonds Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 1,513,854

(NIS Thousands)

(NIS Thousands)

Jerusalem, 21 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that earlier today, forces from the Jerusalem Brigade combat team operating in the northern Gaza Strip identified a number of suspects who had gathered near the yellow line and fired shots to disperse them.

After firing shots to disperse them, three terrorists crossed the Yellow Line and approached the forces in a manner that posed an immediate threat to them.

Also, in two other incidents in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces identified two terrorists who crossed the yellow line and approached them in a manner that posed a threat.

In all three incidents, the Israel Air Force, under the direction of the forces, attacked the terrorists in order to eliminate the threat.

The IDF did not say if the terrorists were killed or harmed.

The Yellow Line marks the areas where Israeli forces are continuing to operate under the Gaza ceasefire agreement: Israel controls everything to the east, north and south of the line and Hamas and other terrorists are prohibited from crossing it.

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

President Isaac Herzog today (Sunday, December 21, 2025) delivered remarks at a ceremony to mark one week since the deadly terror attack in Sydney, Australia. The ceremony, which was held at the National Institutions Building in Jerusalem, was also attended by the Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Mr. Yaakov Hagoel, officials of the Australian Embassy in Israel, and members of the bereaved families.

Remarks by President Herzog:

“Beloved sisters and brothers in Australia, shalom to all of you from Jerusalem, our eternal capital.

We know that each year, the Australian Jewish community is among the first in the world to welcome Chanukah. It is among the first to light candles and celebrate the miracles of the Jewish people.

Tragically this year, instead of lighting the first candle, our sisters and brothers ran for cover. Instead of singing ‘Maoz Tzur,’ our families searched for shelter. Instead of ‘Shehecheyanu,’ there was Kaddish.

Tonight, on the 8th and final candle of Chanukah, I want to say to the Jews of Australia: the people of Israel are with you. Despite thousands of miles between us, we feel your pain, we see your courage under fire, we share your sense of abandonment, shock, and horror.

Here in Jerusalem, we heard your hearts break, and felt our own hearts steeped with grief. We send our sincerest condolences to all those grieving their loved ones, and our warmest wishes for the speedy recovery of all those wounded.

Friends, I have witnessed the resilience and depth of Australian Jewry. I hope to be able to visit you all soon in Australia and bring you a message of love from the State of Israel, to hug you and console you on behalf of the nation and people of Israel. I know I will encounter great strength, warmth, and love of Israel from all of you.

The rise in Jew-hatred across the world is a global emergency. The battle against antisemitism must be everyone’s battle against antisemitism. This is an urgent call to action to prevent the next catastrophe. We will not stand for this.

In each nation, combatting antisemitism requires very strong and tough measures, and strong leadership. It requires ordinary people rejecting lies and bias, embracing diversity, humanity, and truth.

The Australian heroes who intervened and came to the rescue at Bondi, who came to pay their respects, will forever be remembered for their kindness. 

We will not allow the hatred to break us. We will not allow terror to diminish our light, our unity, our peoplehood, our mutual responsibility, our eternity.

Together we will defeat this darkness. By lighting, now, 15 memorial candles to memorialize those we lost. By lighting one more Chanukah candle, tonight, all over the world. By calling out, loud and clear: long live the Jewish people eternally, Am Yisrael Chai.”