Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today:

“We have now completed two years of the ‘War of Redemption.’ In this war, the people of Israel have performed wonders and excelled in striking our enemies. What most amazes the foreign leaders I speak with, and I explain this to them, is that the majority of the fighting force is made up of reservists. The conscripts and the standing army are doing magnificent work, but what truly astonishes them is that hundreds of thousands within the fighting and support ranks are reservists.

They give everything, and we must give them everything. Today, following the grants we have already provided to them and their families, the government is approving an additional special assistance plan for reservists for the coming year. This plan will total NIS 6.2 billion and will reward personnel based on the nature of their service, led by our combat soldiers. They stand at the front, and we stand with them and will continue to support them. I want to thank the Finance Minister and the Defense Minister for their excellent, integrated work in quickly bringing forward this support.”

Minister Regev: “These are professional appointments that will strengthen the civil aviation system, safety, and the management of national bodies for the benefit of Israeli citizens.”

The government approved today (Sunday) the appointment of Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Airports Authority (RA”T). The appointment is for a term of four years.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal brings with him many years of experience in public service, management of large organizations, and key positions in the security and civilian systems. Among his previous roles, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Israel Electric Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Israel Ports Company, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Model Security Company, as well as senior command positions in the IDF, including Commander of the Ground Forces.

The search committee noted that Ron-Tal is a candidate with suitable qualifications, extensive managerial and professional experience in the fields of infrastructure and safety, and that he is suited to the challenges facing the Airports Authority, including managing a complex aviation system, maintaining a high level of safety, and promoting the development of civil aviation in Israel.

During the government meeting, the appointment of Ofer Vakinin as Director of the Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety was also approved. The Unit is responsible for investigating accidents and safety incidents in civil aviation, in accordance with international standards, with the aim of drawing systemic lessons, improving the level of safety, and preventing recurrence of incidents.

Vakinin has extensive professional experience in aviation and air safety, and possesses in-depth knowledge of civil aviation safety systems, aviation regulation, and safety investigation management. In his previous roles, he was involved in the management, supervision, and investigation of aviation safety incidents, and he brings practical knowledge and accumulated experience working with aviation bodies, regulators, and international organizations.

Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Brig. Gen. (res.) Miri Regev: “I welcome the approval of the appointment of Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Airports Authority and the appointment of the Director of the Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Unit. These are professional and responsible appointments that will strengthen the civil aviation system, safety, and the management of national bodies for the benefit of Israeli citizens.”

Director General of the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, Moshe Ben Zaken: “The Ministry of Transport continues to implement Minister Regev’s policy to strengthen the managerial, supervisory, and safety backbone, on land, at sea, and in the air. The combination of experienced leadership at the Airports Authority along with strengthening the safety investigation system is a significant step towards maintaining high standards in the aviation industry.”

Remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Israel Katz, and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich at the government meeting following the approval of the 2026 Reserve Service Personnel Assistance and Appreciation Program, totaling NIS 6.2 billion:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

“We have now completed two years of the ‘War of Uprising.’ In this war, Israel has astonished with its actions and astonished our enemies with its blows. The thing that most astonishes foreign leaders I speak with, I explain to them that the majority of the army fighting is reserve service personnel. The regular army and career soldiers are doing a wonderful job, but the thing that amazes them the most is that hundreds of thousands of the fighting and supporting army are reserve service personnel.

They give their all, and we must give them our all. And today, following the grants we have already given them and their families, the government is approving today an additional special assistance program for reserve service personnel for the coming year. A program that will amount to NIS 6.2 billion, and the program will reward the service personnel according to the nature of their service, and foremost among them our fighters. They stand on the front lines – and we stand with them and will continue to support them. I would like to thank the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defense for the excellent, integrated work to bring this support and to bring it as soon as possible.” 

Minister of Defense Israel Katz:

“Thank you to the Prime Minister, first of all, for the backing and support for this entire endeavor, thank you to the Minister of Finance for the joint work that is not taken for granted. You received praise for the previous section on this matter as well. We see, Mr. Prime Minister and all the ministers of the government, we see the reserve soldiers before our eyes. First of all, we made a very important and not obvious decision – we reduced the number of reserve duty days to 40,000 instead of 60,000, to ease the burden on reserve soldiers. This is the most important news. And within this, we are now bringing the proposal for a decision to extend the benefits and add benefits for reserve soldiers. I convened the Ministerial Committee on Reserve Affairs, which I head. We formulated the details and we are bringing them. As mentioned, NIS 6.2 billion in addition to this, and the package is a package that takes into account the unique phenomenon of hundreds of thousands who come and serve, and essentially their families who support them, the businesses that support them, it’s all one whole that we are coming to assist in order to continue this, and so that Israel’s security can continue to be in those good hands.

The reserve soldiers, along with the regular army soldiers and career personnel, are the ones who enable the Prime Minister and us to make decisions. Bold decisions, decisions that have changed the Middle East, that have changed Israel’s standing. Everything rests on the people. Therefore, the appreciation today and the decisions today are decisions that strengthen the reserve soldiers, their families, and the security of the State of Israel.”

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich:

“As we said, we are not waiting for budget approval. We are ensuring that our reservists and their families do not wait a single day. And even in the continuing budget, we are confirming today and implementing the large comprehensive program.

I want to say three brief things: thanks, a request, and a promise.
First of all, thank you to the reservists who serve. People who have left everything for over two years and are giving their all for the country. Thank you to their amazing families, the families of the mobilized who are mobilizing no less than they are. Thank you very much to the Minister of Defense for full cooperation and to the Prime Minister for end-to-end backing.
A request – make sure you don’t miss any benefit that is due to you. We are doing everything to push it to you. We are trying to make it automatic, like credit points. Make sure you receive everything and don’t miss out on any grant, any vacation, any voucher, any fighter card, it is yours by right, not by grace.
And a promise – I know that what is truly important to you, beyond the benefits, is victory. That your great sacrifice will truly bring the State of Israel to immense peaks of growth, prosperity, and security. We are committed to continuing until the end in all arenas and to ensure that on your backs, in your hands, on your shoulders, through your great devotion, the people of Israel will win.”

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli security forces seized approximately 53 kilograms of hashish-type drugs over the weekend, the Israel Police said on Sunday morning.

Two Israeli Bedouins in their 20s and 30s were arrested near the Dead Sea during a joint police-military operation against drug smuggling. The confiscated drugs were worth around NIS 250,000 ($79,000), the police added.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Tourism is highlighting the recovery of inbound travel at the FITUR International Travel Fair in Madrid, with the opening of Israel’s national pavilion.

The pavilion features 30 Israeli tourism companies, including tour operators, hotels and airlines. A flagship event for the international tourism industry, FITUR hosts exhibitors from 156 countries and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Spain, a Catholic country of 49 million people whose residents make more than 21 million international trips annually, is seen as a key growth market.

Since the war, tourism in Israel is rising, with 1.3 million visitors recorded in 2025, according to Tourism Ministry figures.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Fullpath, an Israeli automotive technology company based in Tel Aviv, has launched what it describes as the automotive industry’s first agentic CRM, completing a comprehensive AI ecosystem for car dealerships.

The new platform, currently in beta with select customers, integrates multi-agent AI to manage real-time shopper intelligence, lead engagement, and task prioritization within a single workspace. Built on Fullpath’s existing Customer Data Platform, which serves about 10% of the North American automotive market, the system is designed to reduce administrative workload and data silos. Fullpath will showcase the new CRM at the National Automobile Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas in February.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Commander of the United States Military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel yesterday as the official guest of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

During the visit, the CENTCOM Commander and the Chief of Staff held a lengthy personal meeting. This was followed by a meeting with senior officials.

“The meeting is a further expression of the personal bond between the commanders, the close strategic relationship between the IDF and the United States Military, and the continued strengthening of defense cooperation between the two countries,” said the IDF.

US CENTCOM “directs and enables military operations and activities with allies and partners to increase regional security and stability in support of enduring U.S. interests.”

The region of the world it covers includes the Middle East and Israel.

Jerusalem, 25 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) recapped the recent activities of its 7th Armored Brigade in the southern Gaza Strip including the destruction of an underground terror tunnel approximately four kilometers long and the detection of rocket launchers and provided videos of its actions.

Last week, after the exchange of fire in which six terrorists were eliminated, the forces searched the area and located equipment and weapons, including: explosives, cartridges and an instruction manual for preparing explosives.

In additional activities, the forces located five inactive rocket launchers and several weapons.

Also, the activity to destroy an underground route, which began about a year ago, in cooperation with (Diamond) Combat Engineers Special Forces, was completed, with a length of about four kilometers, in which several sleeping rooms and weapons were found.

“IDF forces in the Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the outline of the ceasefire agreement and will continue to act to remove any immediate threat,” said the IDF.

Jerusalem, 22 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing completed strengthening public housing buildings in Migdal HaEmek in northern Israel with an investment of approximately 6.9 million Shekels ($2.2 million).

The project, carried out by Amigur, a subsidiary of the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Construction and Housing, led by the Ministry’s long-standing Fabric and Building Strengthening Administration and in cooperation with the Migdal HaEmek Municipality, included strengthening two residential complexes in the city:

Vered 2 complex, 22 housing units, with a budget investment of approximately 3.3 million Shekels.

Golani Brigade 7 complex, 24 housing units, with a budget investment of approximately 3.6 million Shekels.

As part of the work, the skeleton of the buildings was reinforced with concrete and iron, to improve their resistance to earthquakes, along with upgrading the appearance of the buildings, developing gardens and rehabilitating public spaces for the benefit of the residents and the community. Both projects are part of the Ministry of Construction and Housing’s plan to strengthen the old fabric and improve the living conditions of public housing residents in Migdal HaEmek and strengthening local authorities in the north.