Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Wednesday, conducted a comprehensive tour of the Western Negev together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other senior officials. The Prime Minister’s Office said the tour was part of a “multidisciplinary national effort that includes strengthening and developing the region, completing strategic solutions in the region, and combating crime in Arab society.”

At the beginning of the tour, the members arrived at the settlement of Revivim, where they conducted an observation of the bedouin town Bir Bir Hadaj, and received a review on the handling and enforcement of the Israel Police against the phenomena of smuggling and illegal possession of weapons in the south, and were later exposed to the seizures of weapons and the thwarting of significant smuggling operations carried out by police forces in the area and at the borders.

The tour focused on a broad national plan promoted by the Prime Minister’s Office, which includes: strengthening the state’s grip on the territory, promoting plans to expand settlement and increase demographic growth, developing new employment areas, improving civil infrastructure, and meeting the security needs of residents. The plan is based on inter-ministerial staff work to strengthen the borders and build the multidimensional national plan for the Negev.

“The Negev is raging,” said Netanyahu. “We are curbing it, and an important operation by the Israel Police, in conjunction with other forces, has begun. To curb it, we need to understand that the criminal threat and the security threat are merging into one another.”

“Therefore, we will bring a national project to achieve all these goals, but first and foremost – to return governance to the Negev,” he declared.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Jewish Agency for Israel has received a grant of $1.5 million from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust in support of the Security Fund for protecting Jewish communities around the world from acts of terror, which it called “one of the most far-reaching Jewish security initiatives in the world.”

The Security Fund was established in 2012, at the request of the Government of Israel, following the deadly terror attack at the Ozar Ha’Torah Jewish day school in Toulouse, France. Its mission is to ensure the safety of Jewish communities around the world —outside the United States — by providing financial assistance for securing and protecting Jewish communal institutions.

The new grant will be used to increase the physical security of 58 Jewish religious, educational, and communal institutions in Europe, North America, South America, and Australia that are vulnerable to potentially violent terrorist attacks.

This latest contribution brings the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s total support for the Jewish Agency’s relief and security efforts to more than $11 million.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Bank of Israel reported that Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of December 2025 stood at $229.484 billion, a decline of $1.941 billion from their level at the end of the previous month. The level of the reserves relative to GDP was 39.4%.

The decline, said the Bank, was mainly explained by foreign exchange activity by the government totaling about $3.483 billion. This decline was partly offset by a revaluation of the reserves totaling approximately $1.509 billion.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that he was “Glad to meet the largest ever delegation of members of both houses of Japan’s National Diet to Israel,” which he met at the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem.

Sa’ar said he stressed the importance of Israel’s strategic partnership with Japan and its “will to deepen security ties.”

He also described the goal of the Hamas terror in Gaza, which he said is “eliminating the State of Israel,” and added that “If this terror state isn’t dismantled, the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis will continue.”

“We’ll continue strengthening our close friendship with Japan!” declare Sa’ar on social media.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — TASE Top 10 Indices wednesday, january 7, 2025

Index | Value | +/- Change in Value
TA-35 | 3,845.78 | +0.01%
TA-90 | 4,100.41 | +0.33%
TACombo – 90&Banks-5 | 4,187.29 | +0.48%
TA125 | 3,893.87 | +0.08%
Money Market | 465.52 | +0.02%
TA125-Value | 4,147.65 | -0.37%
TA Sector-Balance | 4,527.81 | -0.16%
All-Bond | 424.49 | +0.11%
Bond-CPI A | 423.38 | -0.02%
Tel-Bond 60 | 418.88 | +0.02%

Equity Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 5,414,597
Bonds Turnover
(NIS Thousands) | | 4,990,380

(NIS Thousands)

(NIS Thousands)

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The following are the end of day exchange rates as set by the Bank of Israel Wednesday, January 7, 2025:
(Units are given in the foreign currency and the rate is given in its value in Shekels)

Currency | Unit | Rate (NIS) | Daily Change (against the Shekel)
US Dollar | 1 | 3.1750 | +0.348%
GB Pound | 1 | 4.2834 | +0.098%
Japanese Yen | 100 | 2.0283 | +0.242%
Euro | 1 | 3.7104 | +0.154%
AUS Dollar | 1 | 2.1374 | +0.508%
Can Dollar | 1 | 2.2989 | +0.052%
DAN Krone | 1 | 0.4965 | +0.141%
NOR Krone | 1 | 0.3157 | ‎-0.032%
SA Rand | 1 | 0.1931 | +0.052%
SWD Krona | 1 | 0.3457 | +0.465%
SWS Franc | 1 | 3.9881 | ‎-0.048%

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Israel Police reported an activity in the Negev Bedouin town Tarabin led to the arrest of 30 suspects and detained for questioning, along with the seizure of weapons, including four grenades and ammunition.

The activity was carried out as part of “Operation New Order,” Israel’s campaign to fight against organized and violent crime in the south of the country.

In addition, 53 demolition order notices for illegal structures were issued, and combined enforcement was carried out with civilian bodies.

A healthy two-month-old child from northern Israel has died as a result of Influenza.

The Ministry of Health recommends that the entire population continue to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Although children at this age cannot be vaccinated, vaccinating people in close contact provides some protection, which is why it is important for the entire population to be vaccinated.

The Ministry emphasizes that although the flu vaccine does not completely prevent illness, it reduces severity in most cases.  

The vaccine is available free of charge at health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

As a precautionary measure, the Ministry of Health recommends that high-risk populations consider wearing masks in closed spaces and crowded places. The Ministry also recommends that medical staff and visitors to nursing homes and geriatric facilities wear masks.
 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

I feel deep pain over the cutting short of the life of the dear yeshiva student, Yosef Eizenstat, 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 thoroughly investigated to draw all necessary insights and lessons from them.

I extend my full condolences to the Eizenstat family.

At the same time, I call to prevent the escalation of tensions so that we do not, God forbid, experience further disasters. 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.”

The President’s Residence:

We have gone through a very sad and painful evening – with the loss of life of a Haredi youth and the injured with severe, moderate, and light wounds.

Violence is crossing a red line in the most severe and dangerous sense. This painful evening must be a wake-up call for all of us, and especially for all those involved: it is time to show responsibility, lower the flames, and do everything to prevent the next disaster, before it is too late.

I support the police in conducting a swift and comprehensive investigation in order to quickly bring about the full extent of justice and draw conclusions.

In this difficult hour, my heart is with the youth’s family, and I send them condolences and wish a complete recovery to the injured.