Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Amb. Sammy Revel met today with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as part of what the Israeli Embassy in the country called “ongoing diplomatic engagement and dialogue between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

The meeting, said the embassy, “underscored the importance of continued communication and cooperation between the two countries and reflected and shared interest in maintaining open channels at the highest level of leadership.”

The discussion also highlighted significant economic opportunities and the potential for expanded collaboration between Israel and Bahrain, including trade, investment and innovation-driven partnerships.

Revel said he was “Honored to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, at the beginning of my mission as Ambassador… Promoting peace and coexistence through dialogue is key to our shared future.”

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Earlier today, said the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) a report was received of a shooting by an Israeli citizen inside the village of Deir Jarir, located near Ramallah.

An initial investigation indicated that the shooting was carried out by an IDF reservist wearing civilian clothing, in what the IDF called a “a serious violation of his authority.”

Claims of casualties are being investigated.

Shortly thereafter, footage of a Palestinian gunman was received. After an investigation, it was determined that the same reservist was involved.

The IDF said these incidents are being investigated, and based on the findings, the matter will be forwarded to the relevant authorities.

The soldier’s weapon was taken by the IDF, and his service was terminated due to “the severity of the events.”

The IDF said it “strongly condemns and views any manifestation of violence as serious, and demands that its fighters and commanders act in accordance with the values of the IDF spirit.”

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — In preparation for the cold wave and winter system expected next week, Israel’s Ministry of Welfare and Social Security is preparing to provide an immediate response to street dwellers by referring them to hotels across the country, fully funded by the ministry and without a deductible for the recipient of the service, with the aim of ensuring they have a roof over their heads and preventing danger to their lives.

The ministry has updated its guidelines for local authorities, according to which, in cases where there is no response available through the signs and existing welfare frameworks, street dwellers can be referred to hotels, according to professional judgment.

The guidelines, it said, also allow for providing assistance to street dwellers and homeless people who are not known to social services, in order to ensure that no one is left exposed to the cold and the elements.

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the data on overnight stays in tourist hotels, January-November 2025.

January-November 2025 – Original Data:

19.6 million overnight stays in tourist hotels in Israel (20.9 million January-November 2024):

16.9 million overnight stays by Israelis 86% of total overnight stays (19.2 million January-November 2024, 92% of total overnight stays)

2.8 million tourist nights – 14% of total nights (1.7 million January-November 2024, 8% of total nights)

Hotel room occupancy was 53%, compared to 61% in January-November 2024.

Room occupancy by district ranges from 39% in the Jerusalem District to 69% in the Southern District.

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the data from the” Labor Force Survey for November 2025.”

Seasonally adjusted data for November 2025 (compared to October 2025, among those aged 15 and over):

Percentage of the labor force – 63.1% (62.8% in October).

Employment rate (percentage of employed people out of the total population) – 61.1% (60.9% in October).

Percentage of unemployed in the labor force – 3.1% (3.0% in October).

Percentage of people aged 25-64 in the labor force – 81.7% (81.2% in October).

Employment rate among those aged 25-64 – 79.4% (79.0% in October).

The percentage of unemployed people in the labor force among those aged 25-64 – 2.9% (2.7% in October).

The percentage of employed people who usually work full-time, out of all employed people – 78.4% (78.1% in October).

Original data from November 2025:

In November 2025 (compared to October 2025, among those aged 15 and over):

Percentage of the labor force – 62.7% (62.4% in October).

Employment rate (percentage of employed people out of the total population) – 60.8% (60.4% in the previous month).

Percentage of unemployed in the labor force – 3.1% (3.2 in October).

Employment rate excluding those temporarily absent from work all week for economic reasons – 60.6% (60.2% in October).

Percentage of those temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 7.0% (2.5% in October), military reserve duty – 13.8% (5.9% in October), other – 1.0% (0.5% in October).

Percentage of men temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 9.5% (4.1% in the previous month), military reserve duty – 31.0% (12.3% in October), other – 1.7% (1.0% in October).

Percentage of Women temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 5.1% (1.3% in October), military reserve duty – there were none (1.1% in October), other – there were none (unchanged from October).

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the data on revenue and employment in tourist hotels January-September 2025.

With the outbreak of the Iron Sword War on October 7, 2023, the hotel industry in Israel was required to adapt to significant changes. Hotels in risk areas were closed. Hotels in other areas were asked to respond to the Government’s plan to evacuate citizens from risk areas in the south and north, and to provide them with accommodation and hospitality services.

Revenue from tourist hotels amounted to 10.4 billion Shekels ($3.2 billion), at current prices, approximately 86% of the revenue was received from Israelis and 14% from tourists – 10.6 billion Shekels ($3.3 billion), 90% was received from Israelis and 10% of the revenue was received from tourists, in the corresponding period in 2024.

86% of the revenue was received from Israelis, 90% in the same period in 2024.

The average number of jobs per month (including jobs through staffing companies) was 42,000 – 38,000 in the same period in 2024.

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) said that on Thursday afternoon its surveillance and Air Control Center identified two drones that crossed from the west of the State of Israel in an attempt to infiltrate the country.

Following the identification, an Israel Air Force combat helicopter intercepted the two drones as they entered the country.

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Meteorological Service issued a flood warning for rivers in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea from Saturday to Monday when Storm Cornela is expected to lash the country with heavy rain and winds. Authorities warned that entering riverbeds on foot or by vehicle during the floods is strictly prohibited due to life-threatening risks.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority warned that approaching river edges is also dangerous because of potential bank collapses.

Jerusalem, 25 December, 2025 (TPS-IL) — An advanced recycling facility for construction waste was inaugurated in Kedumim, within the Brown Park Industrial Zone. The facility, which cost 5.6 million Shekels ($1.7 million), is expected to serve the Judea and Samaria region and contribute to reducing landfill volumes, by sorting, processing and recycling construction waste and turning it into an economic and infrastructure resource.

The facility operates in a recycling-before-landfill format: the construction waste it receives undergoes sorting and recycling processes, and only residues that are not suitable for reuse are sent to landfill on site on a limited scale. The recycling products are used as raw materials for the construction industry and infrastructure, and are a central pillar of a circular economy.