Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — A healthy two-month-old child from northern Israel has died from the flu, the Ministry of Health reported. This marks the sixth pediatric flu-related death in Israel this year.

While infants under six months cannot be vaccinated, the ministry stressed that vaccinating those around them can offer indirect protection. Health officials urged the public to get vaccinated, noting the vaccine reduces disease severity even if it doesn’t fully prevent infection.

The ministry continues to recommend masks for at-risk populations, medical staff, and visitors in nursing and geriatric facilities.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The 15th International Jerusalem Winner Marathon will take place on Friday, March 27, organizers announced. Tens of thousands of runners from Israel and abroad are expected. The event, organized by the Jerusalem Municipality and sponsored by Toto Winner, showcases Jerusalem’s historic landmarks.

Which academic institution will lead the next groundbreaking research on preventing dust emissions from quarries? Which researchers will combine drones with renewable energy? And who is the professor who wants to develop a system that will generate electricity from the sound of the sea and wave movements?
The Chief Scientist Unit at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure is publishing today the list of 21 academic research projects that have received support totaling approximately NIS 10 million. These are researchers from 11 academic institutions across the country, including the Technion, Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University, Bar-Ilan University, and others. Agreements are currently being signed with the academic institutions, and the research projects will commence for a period of one to three years, with some of them potentially becoming technologies that will impact every home in Israel.

Among the winning research projects is the proposal by Prof. Daniel Nissim from Bar-Ilan University on developing an innovative method for treating PET plastic waste, used for soft drink bottles. The idea behind the research is to break down the polymer in an electrochemical cell and produce fuels, while simultaneously using the hydrocarbon mixture as raw material for producing fuels and various high-value chemical products. This is a highly innovative research that could lead to an unknown breakthrough in the plastic recycling industry. For the execution of this research, the Ministry will provide a grant of NIS 499,600. 

Another groundbreaking research will focus on developing an innovative system that generates electricity from the sound of the sea and wave motion, with the aim of powering small marine monitoring devices. The research will be conducted by Prof. Roi Diamant from the University of Haifa, and he will receive a grant of NIS 657,100.

Further research that may leave its mark on the energy sector is that of Prof. Yitzhak Katreh from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, who will examine the development of a system for monitoring and preventing dust emissions from quarries. The goal of the research is to assist in determining appropriate policy for Israel in the field of quarries and in improving air quality. For this purpose, the researcher received a grant from the Ministry amounting to NIS 685,937.

Dr. Amichai Horesh from the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, and Prof. David Zerok from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have also received support from the Ministry to conduct a joint research project examining the possibility of developing a drone integrated with innovative sound wave-based technology for cleaning solar panels without the use of water. Both researchers received a grant from the Ministry for this research amounting to NIS 999,000. 

Last year, the Ministry awarded approximately NIS 8 million to 11 research projects from 6 different academic institutions across the country.

Attached is the full list of winners and the total grants for this year. 

Prof. Brian Rosen, Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure: “The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure places great importance on strengthening applied academic research in Israel, and on providing tools that will help bring innovative technologies out of the laboratories, for the significant benefit of the energy, water, and quarry sectors. Strengthening applied research in Israeli academic research institutions will ensure that Israel remains at the global forefront of scientific breakthroughs leading to technological developments in the fields of energy, water, quarries, and the environment.”

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel carried out a controlled demolition of three minefields along its border with Jordan as part of the building of a security barrier, the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. The operation destroyed around 500 old anti-tank mines laid in the area in the late 1960s.

The barrier project spans roughly 500 km from the southern Golan Heights to the Samar Sands north of Eilat. The $1.7 billion initiative includes a multi-layered system of fences, radars, cameras, and advanced IT capabilities.

Job Description

Senior Coordinator (Local Committees Liaison), Salary Grades 39-40, 11 MAHAR, District Planning Bureau – Northern District, for:

• Supervising the work of local committees in all their statutory duties – preparing plans, expropriation of land or buildings (Sec. 28).
• Collecting data, submitting opinions on the activities of local committees, and accompanying plans submitted to district committees.
• Monitoring the reports of the local committee or the committee engineer, on any matter related to the planning area’s needs, its direction and estimated development character, areas designated for construction, housing unit inventory, and the like.
• Promoting local committees and guiding them towards their accreditation as independent committees.
• Serving as the Minister of Interior’s representative and providing advisory opinions in local committee meetings.
• Coordinating between the Local Government Unit and the Planning Bureau regarding the allocation of resources for the development needs of settlements according to the pace of plan implementation and removing obstacles due to budget shortages, as well as responsibility for examining and updating the budget of regional committees.
• Liaising with outline plans for settlements, led by the district, the Planning Administration, or the local committees.
• Performing other similar tasks as instructed by the supervisor.

Job Requirements

Education:

Academic education (Bachelor’s degree) in Geography, Urban and Regional Planning, or Architecture.
*Details of recognized degrees in Urban and Regional Planning that meet the tender’s educational requirements are listed below in the notes.
Licenses:
For Architects – Registration in the Engineers and Architects Registry.

Experience:

 Years of experience for holders of a Master’s degree in Planning and Construction.
3 years of experience for holders of a Bachelor’s degree in Planning and Construction.
*Experience prior to obtaining the degree may be counted if it is relevant to the required experience.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Good knowledge of the Planning and Construction Law.
• Good knowledge of national and district planning and construction procedures.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• High-level verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to face an audience and representational skills.

Scope of Position

Full-time position.

Application Details

Thank you for your interest in applying for this position.
To submit your application, you will be redirected to the Civil Service Commission website. In the job listing, scroll left and click the “Submit Application” button.
Last date for submitting applications for the tender: 20/01/2026

Here you can find extended information about the submission process and the tender process.

Notes

This document is written in gender-neutral language according to Hebrew language rules and addresses both women and men.

This position is eligible for a recruitment bonus. For information on this topic – click here

On the 16th of Tevet, 5786 (January 5, 2026), an application was filed to register a party named: The Zionist Way.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police arrested ten suspects for involvement in a murder in the Negev Bedouin settlement of Ar’ara BaNegev, located southeast of Be’er Sheva. An initial investigation, said the police, indicates that the shooting was related to a family feud in the Bedouin community and, as such, would be yet another example of the continuing violent crimes in israel’s Arab communities.

The police launched an investigation overnight following a shooting incident in Ar’ara, during which a local resident in his 20s was shot. The injured man was evacuated from the scene to receive medical treatment at Soroka Hospital, and his death was later confirmed

Police forces operated at the scene of the incident, collecting evidence and findings, and within a short time, ten suspects, residents of Aroer in the Negev, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the shooting incident.

Hundreds of attendees participated in the conference, including trustees, employees of the Supervisor’s department, and other professional partners.
During the conference, data and trends for 2025 regarding the scope of insolvency portfolios were presented, alongside a presentation of rehabilitation processes managed under the auspices of the Supervisor’s department. Key legal issues in the field were also discussed, and professional sessions were held.
Additionally, Adv. Nili Levanat, Director of the Unit for Guidance and Supervision of Trustees, presented the structure of the opinion that will be formulated regarding incumbent trustees in preparation for the process of forming trustee lists, which is expected to be published in the coming days.
One of the sessions, with the participation of the Honorable Vice President of the Central District Court – Lod, Judge Hannah Kitzis, and the Honorable Judge Atef Eilboune, from the Nazareth-Nof HaGalil District Court, dealt with the question of whether the courts are implementing the principle of rehabilitation as required, or whether the scope should be narrowed or expanded.
Additional sessions and lectures were held with the participation of judges, the Head of the Government Companies Authority, representatives from the Legal Counsel and Legislation department, representatives from various authorities, and other guests.

I feel deep pain over the cutting short of the life of the dear yeshiva student, Yosef Eisenthal, may he rest in peace, who was run over and killed yesterday at a demonstration in Jerusalem.

The circumstances of the tragic disaster will be fully investigated to draw all necessary insights and lessons.

I extend my deepest condolences to the Eisenthal family.

At the same time, I call to prevent the escalation of tensions so that, God forbid, we do not experience further tragedies. The value of the sanctity of life is etched in our heritage, and we must guard it with all our might.

“He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from every face.”