Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing and National Insurance Institute have recently completed a joint and “first-of-its-kind” initiative that they say “places the fulfillment of rights with citizens who are entitled to them at the heart of government action.” Specifically, this initiative is about rental subsidies for the disabled.

As part of the collaboration, and after professional and in-depth staff work, recipients of benefits that qualify for rental assistance from the Ministry of Construction and Housing were identified. They then carried out a proactive initiative to identify potential beneficiaries for rental assistance, and subsequently contacted them directly.

So, starting this month, text messages will be sent to approximately 40,000 citizens who have been found to be potentially eligible for rent assistance, with the aim of encouraging them to exercise their rights and instructing them on how to act.

The text messages direct potential beneficiaries to submit an application online, or alternatively to one of the branches of the ministry’s registration companies that provide services regarding housing assistance. It should be noted that this is a process that will be incorporated into the ministry’s ongoing work, and text messages regarding the exercise of rights will also be sent in the future to those whom the system identifies as potentially eligible.

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Foreign Ministry revealed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) did not cease making payments to terrorists and their families. It simply changed how such payments are made – by calling the funds “pensions.” Israel’s Foreign Minister dubbed this ‘Pay-for-Slay.’”

These payments are made to the families of terrorists held in Israeli jails and to the terrorists themselves when released from prison. They are also paid out to the families of terrorists who were killed in the course of their activities.

“The Palestinian Authority didn’t end payments to terrorists,” said the Foreign Ministry. “It camouflaged them. Money to released terrorists is now funneled through so-called ‘pensions’ tied to the Palestinian Security Services.”

“This isn’t reform,” it added. “It’s deliberate deception, Pay-for-Slay by another name.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, saying that he “admits that ‘loyalty’ to the sacrifices of Palestinian ‘martyrs,’ prisoners and wounded (all terrorists) and their families is a ‘national Palestinian commitment.’”

Sa’ar further charged that Abbas did so while “continuing to lie about ending the PA’s distorted policy of paying salaries to these despicable terrorists and their families. Instead of ending all payments, he’s disguising many of them as payments to pensioners and salaries of the PA Security Services.”

The Foreign Minister demanded that the international hold the PA accountable for “Pay for Slay.”

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Agency COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories: Judea and Samaria and towards the Gaza Strip) refuted claims made in an article published by AP on Tuesday. In the article, AP implied that Israel does not reveal the data on what forms of air, or how much, actually enter Gaza.

COGAT stated that, “contrary to claims in the AP article:

1. 4,200 aid trucks enter Gaza weekly. Only about 20% of these are delivered through UN agencies, which is the basis for the figures the UN publicly reports. In parallel, all aid entry data is regularly presented at the CMCC (The Civil Military Coordination Center established with the Gaza ceasefire)to international partners.

2. Humanitarian organizations are prioritized for aid entry, and food shipments are coordinated according to the priorities set by them. No food truck submitted by a registered humanitarian organization has been denied. Over the past ten weeks, the volume of food entering Gaza has amounted to roughly five times the estimated need, based on the WFP’s own methodology.”

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The following are the end of day exchange rates as set by the Bank of Israel Wednesday, December 24, 2025:
(Units are given in the foreign currency and the rate is given in its value in Shekels)

Currency | Unit | Rate (NIS) | Daily Change (against the Shekel)
US Dollar | 1 | 3.1860 | ‎-0.157%
GB Pound | 1 | 4.3050 | ‎-0.158%
Japanese Yen | 100 | 2.0436 | ‎-0.147%
Euro | 1 | 3.7573 | -0.242%
AUS Dollar | 1 | 2.1386 | +0.094%
Can Dollar | 1 | 2.3309 | +0.073%
DAN Krone | 1 | 0.5030 | ‎-0.238%
NOR Krone | 1 | 0.3188 | +0.441%
SA Rand | 1 | 0.1915 | +0.209%
SWD Krona | 1 | 0.3479 | 0%
SWS Franc | 1 | 4.0497 | ‎-0.106%

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

President Isaac Herzog today (Wednesday, 24 December 2025) issued the following Christmas message to Christians in Israel, the Middle East, and around the world: 

“Wishing all our Christian sisters and brothers in Israel, the Middle East, and around the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Jerusalem!

Ahead of the Christmas holiday, we visited our neighbors, the Franciscan Sisters, at the St. Antonio Convent in Jerusalem. We shared a prayer for peace and fraternity, and stood united against all forms of hatred and extremism.

I feel deep pride in Israel’s Christian communities, which are an integral part of our nation. The State of israel will continue to protect the freedom of worship for people of all faiths and communities.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
 

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Wednesday that Hamas continues to violate the ceasefire and U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza. Earlier in the day, an Israeli soldier in Gaza was injured when an explosive device was detonated against a military vehicle in Rafah.

One soldier was lightly injured and evacuated for treatment.

“Hamas must be held to the agreement that they signed on, which includes removal from governance, demilitarization and de-radicalization,” Netanyahu’s statement said. “Israel will respond accordingly.”

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In coordinated operations across Israel, authorities confiscated 46 vehicles, including luxury cars, from individuals with outstanding tax debts, the Tax Authority and Israel Police said.

Authorities said the operations aim to strengthen enforcement, deter evasion, and ensure accurate tax reporting.

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Storm Cornera is set to hit Israel this weekend, bringing heavy rain and widespread flooding, the Israel Meteorological Service warned on Wednesday.

Rain will begin Saturday morning, mainly in the north and center, and intensify on Sunday. The central and southern coast, Samaria, and the Jerusalem mountains are expected to face heavy flooding. Additional flood risks include the Judean Desert, Dead Sea streams, and parts of the northern Negev.

Jerusalem, 24 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The 800th British immigrant of 2025 arrived in Israel, marking a milestone in the ongoing wave of immigration from Western countries, Israel’s Ministry of Immigration and Absorption announced on Wednesday.

The Donitz family — Simon, Deborah, and their two young children — arrived from at Ben-Gurion Airport.

“Immigration to Israel is a profound expression of Zionism, mutual guarantee and faith in the future of the country. We continue to work to enable every Jew who is interested in immigrating to Israel to receive a warm home and optimal absorption here,” said Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Ofir Sofer as he welcomed the family.

Since the start of 2025, more than 29,000 immigration files have been opened worldwide, the ministry added.