Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Transport and Road Safety is fighting the exclusion of women on public transportation. A fine of 40,000 Shekels ($12,600) and personal compensation of 22,000 shekels ($6,900) to a female passenger, along with additional fines and penalties against the Dan bus company and a bus driver were levied for a serious incident of exclusion of women and discrimination on public transportation.

The incident occurred in January 2023 on bus route 292, which operates between Bnei Brak and Petah Tikva. A 76-year-old female passenger who boarded the bus was asked by a bus driver to move to the back of the bus, claiming that it was a bus operating in a “mehadrin” format, one which requires the separation of men and women for religious reasons. After she refused, offensive and discriminatory statements were made to her, with the driver participating in the incident.

The Tel Aviv District Traffic Magistrate’s Court ruled that this was improper conduct that violates human dignity and constitutes a violation of the obligation to provide equal service on public transportation.

The indictment was filed by the National Prosecution Department of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, as part of a clear policy of zero tolerance towards the exclusion of women and discrimination in public transportation. The ministry works systematically to identify cases of violation of passenger rights, through overt and covert enforcement, and does not hesitate to take legal action against public transportation operators and their employees.

Today (Wednesday), as part of an initiative, detectives from the Holon station conducted a search under a court order at an apartment on Shaul Hadadi Street in Bat Yam.  

During the search of the apartment, 21 division bags containing cocaine, 19 division bags containing MDMA, five division bags containing Dosa, two ecstasy pills, 20 grams of marijuana, an electronic scale, and a mobile phone were seized.

 The suspect (20) was arrested and transferred for investigationon suspicion of drug trafficking.
 

(Communicated by the President’s Spokesperson)

Tuesday, 13 January 2026 / 23 Tevet 5786

*President Isaac Herzog speaks with Yaakov Harari Following His Release from Prison in Venezuela*

This evening, Tuesday, President Isaac Herzog spoke with Yaakov Harari immediately upon his return home to Israel. Harari had been held in prison in Venezuela for over a year without any justification, under extremely harsh and life-threatening conditions. On Monday, Harari was released from detention following an Israeli and international effort, in which President Herzog also took part at the request of the Israeli government’s Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch.

During his call with President Herzog, Harari described the suffering he endured and his current condition. President Herzog expressed his support for Harari and his family after the difficult ordeal they had endured.

President Herzog: “Yaakov, after a prolonged period outside Israel and separation from your family, after terrible suffering, thank God you have returned home. On behalf of the State of Israel, I welcome you on your return. We stand by you and your family and will assist you throughout the process of rehabilitation and return to normal life.”

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection is currently launching an extensive information campaign for local authorities in Arab society, with the aim of raising awareness of the serious dangers to health and the environment posed by the illegal burning of waste.

Burning waste – whether it is household, agricultural or commercial waste – creates a serious health hazard to the environment. The smoke emitted from such incinerators contains toxic and carcinogenic substances that damage the respiratory tract and immune system, and may cause diseases and long-term damage to health, especially among children and sensitive populations.

The ministry developed a comprehensive outreach kit with targeted messages for farmers, business owners, market stall owners and the general public. The kit includes a wide range of outreach materials for local authorities to download and implement, including ads, posters, banners, billboards and social media content.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection emphasized that the responsibility for maintaining clean air and public health is shared by all.

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The process of placing new passenger boarding bridges (air bridges) that connect from the terminal to the plane at Terminal 3 (the main terminal) at Ben Gurion Airport continues. The Civil Aviation Authority recently completed licensing of two parking spaces in Arm B at Ben Gurion Airport after a renovation project that included replacing passenger sleeves, renovating concrete slabs, shifting an underground fueling opening, and re-marking the spaces.

In this way, the stations in Wing B join the other Wings in Terminal 3, C and D, whose renovation has already been completed, and E, where entirely new passenger lanes are already being installed.

This time, unlike previous projects in which all the stands were renovated together, the renovation of the B-wing stands has been split into three separate sections, with only two parking stands being renovated in each section in order to reduce the impact on airport operations. The renovation of most of the parking stands in the wing is scheduled to be completed in June of this year, with the treatment of two B4/B5 parking stands being carried out in parallel with the construction of a fifth wing at Ben Gurion Airport (Wing A), the planning for which has already been completed.

אתמול (ג׳), במהלך פעילות של כוחות החטיבה הצפונית להשמדת תשתיות טרור בצפון הרצועה, הכוחות איתרו משגר טעון עם רקטה מכוונת לשטח מדינת ישראל.בפעילות נוספת של כוחות צוות הקרב של חטיבה 188 בדרום הרצועה, הכוחות איתרו משגר בעל מספר קני שיגור ורקטה שהונחה לצד המשגר. המשגר והרקטה הושמדו על ידי הכוחות.כוחות צה”ל בפיקוד הדרום פרוסים במרחב בהתאם להסכם וימשיכו לפעול להסרת כל איום מיידי.דובר צה”ל:בפעילות בצפון ובדרום רצועת עזה: כוחות צה”ל איתרו שני משגרי רקטותכוחות צה”ל ממשיכים להשמיד תשתיות טרור במרחב הקו הצהוב בצפון ובדרום רצועת עזה. אתמול (ג׳), במהלך פעילות של כוחות החטיבה הצפונית להשמדת תשתיות טרור בצפון הרצועה, הכוחות איתרו משגר טעון עם רקטה מכוונת לשטח מדינת ישראל.בפעילות נוספת של כוחות צוות הקרב של חטיבה 188 בדרום הרצועה, הכוחות איתרו משגר בעל מספר קני שיגור ורקטה שהונחה לצד המשגר. המשגר והרקטה הושמדו על ידי הכוחות.כוחות צה”ל בפיקוד הדרום פרוסים במרחב בהתאם להסכם וימשיכו לפעול להסרת כל איום מיידי.

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — During the night (Tuesday), IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and Border Police operated under Shin Bet (Israel’s anti-terror General Security Service) guidance in Shechem (Nablus) area and located the weapon of the terrorist who fired at IDF forces and moderately wounded a soldier in Shechem on Sunday.

In addition to the weapon, a cartridge and ammunition were located.

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — ISRAEL’S foreign ministerGideon Sa’ar spoke with his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot and called on France to support the move to have the EU designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

“For decades, the IRGC has acted to spread terror and destabilization in the Middle East and beyond,” said Sa’ar. “Now, they are leading the murderous repression of the Iranian people, who are fighting for their freedom.”

Sa’ar went on to state that designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization by the EU would be both a “moral and an effective step,” and would “send a clear message to the Iranian people: We hear your voice. You are not alone.”

Jerusalem, 14 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Ahead of tonight’s Tel Aviv Derby, authorities intercepted an attempt to smuggle 152 flares, the Israeli Police said on Wednesday. Undercover detectives at Ben Gurion Airport arrested a man in his 20s arriving on a flight from Milan after flares were found in his suitcase.

“The Israel Police will continue to act against violence and the use of illegal items at sports events, ensuring that the public can safely enjoy football across Israel,” the police said.

The Derby — a match between rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv — will take place at Bloomfield Stadium.