Description: the ministry of Health reports a jackal infected with rabies in the town of Rosh Pinna in the Upper Galilee. As of now, there are no known individuals who have been exposed to the jackal.
Dates: 27.12.2025 to 10.01.2026 inclusive

Instructions:
We request that anyone who came into contact, or whose animals came into contact, in the incident area with the infected animal or a stray animal, between the dates 27.12.2025 and 10.01.2026 inclusive, to urgently contact the Safed Health Bureau, telephone 04-6994257, 04-6994200, or the Health Bureau closest to their place of residence, in order to consider receiving preventive treatment. 
After working hours and during the weekend, please go to the emergency room at a hospital.

The Ministry of Health requests:

• Parents of children – inquire with their children if they have been in contact with suspicious animals and urgently contact the Health Bureau.
• Pet owners – contact the local veterinarian to verify their vaccination status.
• Disseminate information about the incident to travelers and vacationers in the area and in nearby towns.

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 agents, and go to the Health Bureau to check if preventive treatment against rabies is necessary.

More on the same topic
Instructions after injury by an animal suspected of having rabies 

Record High in Public Transportation: 912 Million Trips in 2025

Minister of Transportation Miri Regev: “The public is increasingly choosing public transportation. This is clear proof that the policy we are leading is changing the reality on the roads.”

Public transportation in Israel continues to break records. In 2025, 912 million trips were recorded on buses, light rail, and Israel Railways, compared to 904 million trips in 2024, a new all-time annual record for trips.

The data reflects a trend of continued recovery and growth after the Corona years, and subsequently, against the backdrop of the challenges of the “Swords of Iron” war, during which transportation activities were reduced in large areas of the country, lines were suspended, and drivers and vehicles were mobilized for the national effort. Despite this, the public transportation system maintained functional continuity and quickly returned to growing operational volumes.

The increase in the number of passengers is a result of a clear policy led by the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety: expanding the network of lines, increasing frequencies, opening and extending light rail lines, improving service on Israel Railways, and unprecedented investment in service additions. As part of the 2025 budget, hundreds of millions of shekels were allocated specifically for expanding public transportation services.

The record figure for 2025 indicates growing public trust and a gradual shift from private vehicles to quality, available, and accessible public transportation as a basis for dealing with the problem of road congestion and improving quality of life.

Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Miri Regev: “We are connecting Israel through advanced public transportation – not with slogans but with actions. Every new line, every added frequency, and every infrastructure project brings more passengers to choose public transportation.”

Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, Moshe Ben Zaken: “Since Minister Miri Regev took office, public transportation has been a top priority. The opening of new light rail segments, the expansion of the bus system, the advancement of the national rail network, and the ‘Transportation Justice’ fare revolution – all of these translate into an increase in the number of passengers and improved service for the public.”

prime minister Benjamin netanyahu spoke this evening with Tali and Itzik Guili, parents of the fallen abducted soldier Sergeant Major Ran Guili, may his memory be blessed.

The Prime Minister clarified that Ran’s return is our top priority and that the declarative move to establish a technocratic committee will not affect the efforts to return Ran to burial in Israel.

The Prime Minister clarified that the Israeli government insists that information provided to mediators by the POW Coordinator and his team will be immediately translated into effective actions on the ground.

Hamas is required to abide by the terms of the agreement and make a 100% effort to return all fallen abducted individuals, down to the last one – Ran Guili, hero of Israel.

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli soldiers demolished the Hebron home of terrorist Imran al-Atrash overnight, the Israel Defense Forces said. Atrash was responsible for a November car-ramming and stabbing attack at the Gush Etzion Junction south of Jerusalem.

Seventy-one-year-old Aharon Cohen was killed in the attack and three others were injured.

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — An earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale was felt Thursday morning across the Dead Sea region, with tremors reported in numerous nearby communities. According to initial assessments, the quake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometers, approximately 19 kilometers northeast of Dimona. Residents in the city described feeling strong shaking, saying objects moved inside buildings and that the experience was frightening, noting they had not felt a similar event in years. Magen David Adom reported that it received no calls regarding injuries or damage.

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — More than a million Israelis switched from the national electricity company in 2025 to private energy companies.

In July of last year, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Noga and the Israel Electric Company launched the electricity reform. During the year, 279,500 customers joined the reform, switching from the Israel Electric Company to private suppliers, which is more than a million citizens who enjoy electricity at a discount of 7% – 20%.

Of the new entrants, 161,328 have basic home meters, 100,999 have smart home meters, and 17,173 have smart business meters. The total number of porters currently stands at 362,333.

Jerusalem, 15 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Finance, the Histadrut (Israel’s national labor federation) and the workers’ representative body have signed a new collective agreement for employees of Noga – the electricity system management company.

At the center of the agreement, which will apply to approximately 500 employees of the government company, which manages the operation, planning and trade in the electricity sector in Israel, is a modern and attractive salary structure – something that will strengthen the company’s long-term employment stability and make it possible to attract additional quality employees to the ranks of “Naga.”

Main points of the agreement:
• A percentage increase to the base salary of 3% starting in January of this year (as part of the framework agreement).
• A new salary structure for new employees by clusters and levels, with minimum and maximum ranges, update mechanisms, and differential promotion increments over the years.
• A transition path for existing employees to the new salary structure.
• A signing bonus of NIS 20,000 for employees with one year or more of seniority (and for employees with shorter seniority – a proportional bonus).
• Annual performance bonuses (bonuses) for all employees, according to defined criteria determined by management in consultation with the workers’ committee; broad eligibility for most employees in the target groups.
• Regulation of personal contracts: reduction and association of most personal contract holders with the collective agreement; delimitation of positions where employment under personal contracts and special conditions in defined cases is possible.
• Restrictions on outsourcing and a commitment to the gradual absorption of existing contractor employees for direct employment, subject to a designated track and in defined areas.

The agreement, which also includes horizontal salary increases and performance bonuses, will be valid until 2030.

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — According to the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, 541 Jewish doctors from around the world immigrated to Israel in the past year, and over 1,000 new immigrant doctors have joined the Israeli healthcare system in the past two years as part of a joint national program by the Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Negev, the Galilee and National Resilience, the “Nefesh B’Nefesh” organization, and the Jewish Agency. According to forecasts, hundreds of additional doctors are expected to immigrate to Israel during 2026, strengthening public medical services throughout the country.

Of the doctors who came to Israel in the past year, 346 doctors were from the former Soviet Union, 93 from the US and Canada, 53 from France, 23 from South America, and the rest from other countries around the world. Many of the doctors have already been assigned to various medical positions in hospitals, health funds, and health organizations across the country, including Ichilov, Hadassah, Sheba, Shaare Zedek, Rambam, Soroka, Wolfson, HaEmek, Laniado, and Barzilai.

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Natural Gas Authority at Israel’s Ministry of Energy and infrastructure reported a record year in natural gas connections in 2025, with 41 new consumers including large businesses connected to the distribution network. In total, approximately 220 consumers have been connected throughout the country to date.

“The achievement over the past year is based on a series of significant actions carried out by the Natural Gas Authority, including state-funded acceleration programs to remove barriers, shorten schedules, and complete infrastructure in the field; this is alongside close enforcement and monitoring to ensure that distribution companies comply with licensing obligations, maintain high standards in planning, operation, and safety, and promote connections within binding schedules,” said the Ministry.

Among the consumers connected this past year: three medical centers, industrial plants in the food, plastics, and construction sectors, infrastructure sites, agricultural farms, and businesses in regional industrial centers. A significant portion of the connections have already entered the stage of actual natural gas consumption.