Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich signed an agreement to expand cheese import quotas by approximately 70%. The Ministry of Finance said the move will increase competition and lead to lower prices.

Dairy products in Israel are about 50% more expensive than the average in OECD countries, with hard cheese prices reaching twice the average, said the Ministry.

In light of these gaps, the minister decided on a dramatic move to increase the quotas for duty-free imports, with the aim of increasing competition and gradually reducing cheese prices for consumers.

According to the order signed by the minister, the duty-free quota will increase from 11,500 tons per year to 19,500 tons, an increase of 8,000 tons, which constitutes an increase of about 70% in the volume of exempt imports. The quota increase will take effect immediately and will be valid for two years, with the Minister of Finance retaining the authority to extend the order in accordance with market developments.

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the data from the labor force survey for December 2025. The survey’s data allows monitoring of the effects of the war on the employment situation and the labor market in Israel.

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

Percentage of the labor force – 62.9% (63.1% in November).

Employment rate (percentage of employed people out of the total population) – 61.0% (61.1% in November).

Percentage of unemployed people in the labor force – 3.1% (unchanged from November).

Original data for December 2025
In December 2025 (compared to November 2025, among those aged 15 and over):

Percentage of the labor force – 63.0% (62.7% in November).

Employment rate (percentage of employed people out of the total population) – 61.0% (60.8% in November).

Percentage of unemployed people in the labor force – 3.1% (unchanged from November).

Employment rate excluding those temporarily absent from work all week for economic reasons – 60.8% (60.6% in November).

Percentage of those temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 7.3% (7.0% in the previous month), military reserve duty – 7.8% (13.8% in November), other – 0.9% (1.0% in November).

Percentage of men temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 11.4% (9.5% in the previous month), military reserve duty – 16.6% (31.0% in November), other – 2.2% (1.7% in November).

Percentage of women temporarily absent from work all week by selected reasons: economic reasons – 4.5% (5.1% in the previous month), military reserve duty – 1.8% (there were none in November), other – there were none (0.4% in November).

It should be noted that the definitions of labor force surveys and the reference period of the data differ from other information sources such as the Employment Service and the National Insurance Institute.

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Minister of Construction and Housing, Haim Katz, and Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Authority and Deputy Director General of the Government Authority for Urban Renewal, Yehuda Morgenstern, held a roundtable with leading entrepreneurs last weekend that dealt with the challenges of implementing urban renewal projects and ways to remove barriers that hinder their progress.

During the meeting, an open and in-depth discussion took place, in which the entrepreneurs pointed out key barriers that hinder the implementation of the projects, including: the issue of the reluctant tenant, the lack of economic viability as a result of land values, high implementation costs, the effects of the interest environment, the involvement of the Housing and Housing Authority in some projects, difficulties in development agreements, the method of collecting improvement levies, and general price increases in the industry. Alongside this, proposals for possible regulatory and planning solutions were presented.

The Director General of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Deputy Head of the Governmental Authority for Urban Renewal, Yehuda Morgenstern, noted that there are over 100,000 housing units in approved plans that have not yet been realized into building permits, mainly in the center of the country, due to a damage to economic viability in light of the increase in construction costs.

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Continuing efforts to advance the agreement to develop the joint natural gas reservoir between Israel and Cyprus, a professional delegation from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in cooperation with representatives of the Ministry of Justice, departed Tuesday evening for Cyprus. The Ministry said the rip is intended to continue negotiations to implement the agreements in principle regarding the Aphrodite-Yishay natural gas reservoir, and to anchor them in an intergovernmental agreement.

Within the framework of these agreements, the development of the reservoir will be carried out by the rights holders on the Cypriot side, while the holders of the Yishai lease and the State of Israel will receive compensation for their share in the reservoir, which will be determined by an international expert.

The delegation’s departure is a continuation of the political and professional contacts between the countries, and follows the meeting between the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Eli Cohen, and his Cypriot counterpart, Michaelis Damianos, which took place in Jerusalem last month.

“The agreement is important for strengthening ties between the countries with a shared vision of developing shared natural resources,” said the Ministry. “Reaching agreements is expected to strengthen energy cooperation between the countries and Israel’s position in the regional space and even contribute to the ability to export gas from Cyprus to Egypt. In addition, reaching an agreement is expected to allow progress on other issues, such as the planned electricity cable between Israel and Cyprus.”

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that during an operation in the southern Gaza Strip to clear the area its 188th Armored Brigade’s Combat Team located a shaft containing dozens of weapons used by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including Kalashnikov-type weapons, RPGs, and cartridges..

Israeli forces continue to operate in the southern Gaza Strip to destroy terrorist infrastructure and clear the Yellow Line area.

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — As of July 2025, there were approximately 3.02 million residential apartments/housing units (herein after referred to as apartments) in Israel, an increase of 56,100 apartments compared to 2024, an increase of 1.9%. This is according to data released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

Approximately 2.76 million apartments were in municipalities and local councils and 258,100 apartments were in regional councils.

In the last decade (2016-2025), there was an increase of approximately 19.6% in the number of apartments in municipalities and local councils, an addition of 452,500 residential apartments.

In 2025, the highest percentage of apartments was in the Central District (24.6% of all apartments) and the Tel Aviv District (19.5% of apartments), while the lowest percentage was in the Judea and Samaria region (3.2% of apartments).

The highest number of apartments was in Jerusalem – 251,885 (an increase of 2,578 apartments compared to 2024) followed by Tel Aviv-Yafo – 222,760 apartments (an increase of 3,309 apartments).

A significant increase in the number of apartments compared to 2024 was recorded in the localities of Be’er Ya’akov (10.9%), Gan Yavne (10.5%) and Mevaseret Zion (7.5%).

A high percentage of buildings with 41 or more apartments is found in the cities of Bat Yam and Ashdod (9.1% and 9.0%, respectively), Netanya (5.1%), Tel Aviv-Yafo (4.2%), and Ashkelon (3.8%). In contrast, in Hadera, Bnei Brak, Herzliya, Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut, and Beit Shemesh, the percentage of buildings with 41 or more apartments is less than two percent of all residential buildings in each city.

70.7% of the buildings in Be’er Sheva and 68.5% of the buildings in Ashkelon have 1-2 apartments.

The Ministry of Health reports a jackal infected with Rabies in the town of Kadita in the Upper Galilee. One person who was exposed to the jackal has been referred for preventive treatment against rabies. The notification about the infected jackal was received today, January 20, 2026.

We request that anyone who was in contact, or whose animals were in contact in the incident area with the infected animal or a stray animal, between the dates 03.01.2026 and 17.01.2026 inclusive, to urgently contact the Safed Health Bureau, telephone 04-6994257, 04-6994200, or the Health Bureau closest to their place of residence 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.

• Guidelines after an injury by an animal suspected of having rabies

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Construction and Housing summarized the year 2025 in the South as one characterized by a “broad momentum of activity, comprehensive planning and implementation in the field, which together led to the strengthening of urban and rural communities, the promotion of new communities and the creation of significant housing solutions for the residents of the Negev.”

The Ministry said it worked throughout the year in cooperation with local authorities, planning and government bodies, in order to provide a full response to the needs of the South and reduce gaps that have arisen over the years, and in particular following the war.

For example, the Ministry described “extensive” government investments in Beer Sheva.

Following a government decision approved this year, the Ministry of Construction and Housing led a strategic investment plan aimed at strengthening the city of Be’er Sheva. The ministry coordinated extensive planning and economic work, mobilized government resources, and built a multi-year plan to establish new public institutions, strengthen the old fabric, and develop modern urban infrastructure. The urban vision was updated in accordance with the needs that emerged from the field, and the ministry worked to introduce innovative elements of planning and construction that are adapted to a developing metropolis.

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police foiled a planned murder attempt in Lod as arrested five people involved in the attempted murder said to have been planned following a blood feud were arrested.

The arrest came after police neutralized an armed suspect, and two others were detained for questioning. Another suspect was injured during the conflict as a result of the shooting between the perpetrators and was also taken to receive medical treatment.

Lod is a mixed Arab and Jewish low-income city in central Israel know as a center for criminal organizations.