Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Defense Ministry and military completed the distribution of thousands of domestically produced ARAD rifles to civilian rapid response teams nationwide, concluding a $31 million procurement program aimed at strengthening community-level security and operational readiness.

The rifles, manufactured by Israel Weapon Industries, are part of a broader effort to standardize equipment and rely on local defense production.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli computational chemistry company Evogene Ltd. has partnered with Boston-based Unravel Biosciences to develop a first-in-class therapy aimed at repairing neurological damage in demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.

The collaboration combines Evogene’s AI-driven ChemPass platform for generative small-molecule design with Unravel’s patient-derived BioNAV system and Living Molecular Twins. Together, they aim to identify and optimize brain-penetrant molecules capable of restoring myelin and reversing neurological degeneration—an unmet need in current treatments that focus only on slowing disease progression. Clinical applications could extend to other complex neurodegenerative conditions.

The Unit for the Coordination of the Struggle Against human trafficking in the Ministry of Justice is issuing a warning against conducting surrogacy procedures in Ukraine.

The Unit’s recommendation is to refrain from carrying out surrogacy procedures in Ukraine at this stage, in order to prevent harm and damage to surrogate mothers, intended parents, and newborn infants, and to prevent difficulties and problems in legal proceedings down the line.

To read the full announcement on the website of the Unit for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Human Trafficking

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — As thousands of Kurds flee fighting in the Syrian city of Aleppo, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced the Syrian government for shelling two Kurdish neighborhoods.

“The attacks by Syrian regime forces on the Kurdish minority in the city of Aleppo are serious and dangerous. The international community in general and the West in particular have a debt of honor towards the Kurds who fought fiercely and successfully against ISIS,” Sa’ar tweeted.

“Systematic and murderous oppression of the various minorities in Syria contradicts the promises for a ‘new Syria.’ Silence on the part of the international community will lead to an escalation of violence by the Syrian regime.”

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Minister of Education, Yoav Kish, announced the winner of the israel prize in the field of plastic arts, painting, sculpture and photography is the artist Yaakov Agam.

The award committee noted in its reasoning that Yaakov Agam’s work echoes a long-standing contribution to Israeli and international art over the past seven decades. According to it, Agam broke through the boundaries of plastic art as it was known and renewed the languages of kinetic art and op art.

The committee also noted that the central innovative element in his work over the years is the idea of internal change, both in the body of the work itself and from the changing perspective of the viewer. His works combine visual elements with musical elements in movement in space and time, reflecting a dynamic and renewing reality. His work expresses a concept according to which art must be mobile and changing, just as reality itself is constantly created and shaped.

The Israel Prize is the most important and prestigious award given in the state of Israel. The awards will be presented on the evening of the 78th Independence Day of the State of Israel.

Jerusalem, 8 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The 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, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel will host the first international conference on artificial intelligence in education: a huge summit in Jerusalem with the participation of dozens of delegations from different countries and technology giants

In February 2026, the Ministry of Education in Jerusalem will launch the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, the opening shot for Realistic Israel Month.

The conference will serve as a broad platform for strategic connections, collaborations, and educational policy leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, establishing Israel as a central hub for educational innovation and a leader in the global dialogue on the future of learning.

The conference will bring together approximately 500 senior officials, including 30 delegations from around the world, alongside technology and futurism experts. During the conference, participants will be exposed to the educational and technological ecosystem in Israel and are expected to sign an international memorandum of understanding and the “Jerusalem Declaration.” This declaration is an Israeli initiative that constitutes a groundbreaking document of principles for leading joint educational initiatives among the participating countries.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Earlier today, Wednesday, during what was described as an operational activity by IDF (Israel Defense Forces) units in the area of Beita, in Samaria, a terrorist threw Molotov cocktails at the forces.

The fighters responded by firing at the terrorist and a hit was detected.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure will grant approximately 10 million Shekels ($3.15 million) to 21 groundbreaking studies in the fields of energy and earth and marine science.

These are researchers from 11 academic institutions across the country, including the Technion, Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University, Bar Ilan University, and more. The agreements with the academic institutions are currently being signed, and the studies are underway for a period of one to three years, with some of them potentially becoming technologies that will affect every home in Israel.

For example, innovative research by Bar Ilan University, supported by the ministry, seeks to break new ground in the field of plastic recycling using an electrochemical method for breaking down PET bottles to produce fuels and highly valuable chemical products.