Hundreds of attendees participated in the conference, including trustees, employees of the Supervisor‘s Division, and other professional partners. 
During the conference, data and trends for 2025 regarding the scope of insolvency portfolios were presented, alongside a review of the economic rehabilitation processes managed under the auspices of the Supervisor‘s Division. Key legal issues in the field were also discussed.
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.
As part of the conference, a professional session was held that dealt with current issues in insolvency, including: advance payments, redemption of pension funds, the duration of the rehabilitation plan, and the ruling in case no. CA 58589-04-25 Sohair Zahalka v. Adv. Yaron Oded, Trustee (issued on 01/12/25, published on Nevo), which was given by the Supreme Court. The session was attended by the Honorable Judge Inbal Keren from the Magistrate Court in Haifa, and the Honorable Judge Bella Yahalom from the Magistrate Court in Jerusalem, representatives of debtors and creditors, and a representative of the Supervisor.

In addition, professional lectures were held with the participation of representatives from the Legal Counsel and Legislation department, representatives of various authorities, and additional guests.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The Jerusalem District Court sentenced the two perpetrators of the terrorist car ramming attack in the Jerusalem Romema neighborhood in April 2024 that injured four people to 28 years in prison. The two are Hebron residents, one of whom was a minor at the time the offenses were committed, and the other, is Muhammad Mahmoud. They were convicted of four counts of attempted murder in the context of a terrorist act and related offenses, following a combined attack involving a car ramming and an attempted shooting and stabbing that they carried out in Jerusalem.

According to the conviction verdict, the defendants conspired to carry out a terrorist attack aimed at murdering Jewish citizens. To this end, they equipped themselves in advance with a vehicle, an improvised submachine gun, ammunition, knives and an axe, changed the vehicle’s license plates and entered Israel illegally. Upon arriving in the Romema neighborhood of Jerusalem, they identified four Haredi citizens, accelerated their vehicle towards them and injured them. They then tried to shoot and stab them, but were unable to complete their plan due to a malfunction in the weapon.

The court, as stated, sentenced each of the defendants to 28 years in prison, suspended sentences, and financial compensation for the victims of the crime. It also ordered the confiscation of the means used to carry out the attack. The court noted that “the defendants committed their actions during a time of war on several fronts while the country is bleeding and suffering from the consequences of the terrorist attack of October 7, and members of the security forces are working day and night to protect the country’s borders.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli digital health firm Yonalink has announced a strategic collaboration with Japan’s PSP Corporation to streamline the integration of electronic health record (EHR) data into electronic data capture (EDC) systems used in clinical trials.

Under the agreement, Tokyo-based PSP will contribute its cloud-based medical information and PACS technologies, while Tel Aviv-based Yonalink will deploy its automated EHR-to-EDC integration and data mapping platform. The collaboration aims to reduce manual data entry, improve accuracy, and accelerate clinical trial workflows in Japan.

The partnership marks Yonalink’s first expansion into Asia, alongside current operations in the United States and Europe.

Jerusalem, 7 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Four suspects who were carrying out illegal fishing in the Gdor Marine Nature Reserve were arrested in a joint operation by the Nature and Parks Authority’s marine unit inspectors, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s fisheries and trust inspectors, together with the Tel Aviv maritime police officers to protect Israel’s marine nature. The Gdor Nature Reserve is on the coast north of Tel Aviv.

The suspects, two adults known to authorities for previous fishing offenses and two minors, were observed by an inspector in the Nature and Parks Authority’s marine unit who was on a routine patrol deploying a fishing net in the nature reserve. In the early hours of the morning Tuesday, when the fishermen arrived to collect the net, the fishermen were detained by the inspection boat and the police.

“Nature reserves are a safe haven for fish to reproduce, which leads to an increase in the fish population on all coasts. If we prevent fish from reproducing in nature reserves, their numbers will also decrease in areas where fishing is permitted, so preserving them is also in the interest of fishing,” explained Guy Levian, Deputy Director of the Marine Unit at the Nature and Parks Authority.

The Nature and Parks Authority reminded the public that fishing in the Gdor Nature Reserve is prohibited, fishing must only be carried out according to the law and in places where it is permitted.

Here is the situation and the considerations for the decision:
A Problematic Recommendation at a Critical Time
The Supervisor of Trade Levies at the Ministry of Economy and the Advisory Committee recommended imposing an unprecedented levy of 34% to 105% on aluminum imports from China for 5 years, claiming “dumping” that harms local industry.
The recommendation was based on data from 2023 – a year of war and high interest rates. The decline in factory profits was due to the economic situation and the stagnation in Construction, not necessarily the Chinese price.
Creation of a Significant Shortage in the Construction and Housing Market
The Minister of Finance reveals a dramatic figure in his letter: blocking imports from China is not just an economic issue, but will lead to a physical shortage of raw material, as the local industry specializes mainly in private and luxury Construction, and is not equipped to supply standard profiles for high-density construction (towers) in the required volumes.
The Dry Numbers for 2025:
– Expected demand in the economy: approximately 99,000 tons of aluminum.
– Maximum local production capacity: approximately 51,000 tons only.
– Imports from other countries (excluding China): approximately 25,000 tons.
– The result: a shortage (“gap”) of approximately 23,000 tons per year.
The implication: accepting the Ministry of Economy’s position would lead to the halting of construction sites, delays in handing over keys to buyers, and the development of a “black market.”
A move that will contribute to the exacerbation of the Cost of Living and housing (approximately NIS 600 million per year)
According to Treasury calculations, imposing the levy means a direct damage of approximately NIS 600 million per year to the economy.
Aluminum constitutes approximately 5.8% of the residential construction input index. Any price increase in it is passed directly to the pockets of apartment buyers.
The Israeli aluminum market is concentrated (oligopoly). Imports are the only restraining factor on prices. Furthermore, changing tariffs now creates dangerous regulatory uncertainty ahead of the “What’s Good for Europe” reform in 2027. The market is in the midst of a transition to international standards, and imposing new trade restrictions now disrupts the preparations of importers and contradicts the government’s policy of removing barriers and opening the market.

Professional and Legal Backing
The Minister’s decision adopts the position of senior professional ranks and is legally anchored:
Legal Authority: The decision is based on court rulings (“the cannabis case”) and legal counsel opinions, which allow the Minister of Finance to consider broad considerations (housing, cost of living) and not be a “rubber stamp” for the Supervisor.
Competition Authority: Determined that there is a serious concern of harm to competition and that local manufacturers are unable to meet demand.
Chief Economist: Pointed out that the data on which the Supervisor based his decision were partial and that the “damage” to the industry stemmed from the war and a shortage of workers.
The Figure That Changes the Picture: China Canceled Subsidies
During the investigation, it became clear that the Chinese government recently canceled a 13% subsidy on aluminum exports. The implication: the price from China is already increasing. Imposing an additional levy would constitute a “double punishment” and be unnecessary for the Israeli consumer.

From the words of the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich: “My role is to look at the entire economy. I will not allow a move that will enrich a small number of factories at the expense of every citizen in Israel, exacerbate the housing crisis, and fuel the cost of living.”
 

The Accountant General’s Department at the Ministry of Finance, led by Yahli Rotenberg, completed a significant public offering of dollar-denominated bonds in international markets last night (Tuesday). 

As part of the move, three new series of bonds were issued for terms of 5, 10, and 30 years, totaling $6 billion.

The spreads set in the offering were 90, 100, and 125 basis points, respectively, above the yield of U.S. Treasury bonds for similar terms.

The weighted average spread in the offering stands at approximately 102 basis points, an improvement of about 34% compared to the weighted average spread in the dollar bond offering conducted in 2024, which was approximately 154 basis points.

Demand for the offering amounted to approximately $36 billion, six times the actual offering amount, a figure indicating high confidence from international investors in Israel‘s economy.

The offering was accompanied by the banks Bank of America, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan, who served as underwriters for the deal.

Ahead of the offering, extensive investor meetings were held in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, led by the Accountant General Yahli Rotenberg, Deputy Accountant General Gil Cohen, and the team from the Government Debt Management Unit in the Accountant General’s Department at the Ministry of Finance.

Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich:
“The successful fundraising effort by the State of Israel in international markets, which received high demand from institutional investors worldwide, reflects the resilience of Israel‘s economy and the responsible economic management we have been implementing in recent years, which has earned the trust of the markets.
A big thank you to the Accountant General, Yahli Rotenberg, and his team for their exceptionally diligent and professional work. This is a significant step that supports the continued responsible and stable management of the Israeli economy.”

Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance, Yahli Rotenberg:
“The offering results reflect a return to the spread levels that preceded the war, and indicate high investor confidence in Israel‘s economy. The offering amount supports the State of Israel‘s financing needs for 2026 and provides significant tailwinds for the domestic market as well. These results reflect the resilience and strength of Israel’s economy, even during a challenging period. Approximately 300 different investors from over 30 countries participated in the offering, including countries with which Israel has signed Abraham Accords, indicating the expansion and deepening of the country’s international investor base. On a personal note, as my term as Accountant General comes to an end, it is important for me to note that this offering concludes an unprecedented period of professional and intensive work, and demonstrates the State of Israel’s ability to operate successfully even under conditions of uncertainty.”

Deputy Accountant General, Gil Cohen:
“The State of Israel has succeeded in raising debt at the lowest cost in the last two years, while continuing to support the government debt management strategy, particularly in diversifying funding sources and expanding the investor base, which are important factors in responsible debt management that enables stable government operations even during challenging times.” 
 

Jerusalem, 6 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in October 2025, according to original data – the average salary for a salaried position in Israel at current prices was 13,623 Shekels ($4,300) per month, an increase of 3.0% compared to October 2024 when it was 13,230 Shekels ($4,176).

The average salary for an employee position at constant prices (deducted by the monthly consumer price index) was 10,917 Shekels ($3,440), an increase of 0.5% compared to October 2024 when it was 10,865 Shekels ($3,430).

The number of salaried jobs was 4.067 million, almost unchanged from September 2025 (4.063 million) and an increase of 2.2% from October 2024 (3.981 million).

Flash estimates for November 2025
(Flash estimates are based on partial data available from the Central Bureau of Statistics.)

According to the flash estimates for November 2025, the average salary for an employee position at current prices for all employees was 13,297 Shekels ($4,190), an increase of 4.3% compared to November 2024, when it was 12,743 Shekels ($4,000). The average salary for an employee position at current prices for Israeli employees was 13,587 Shekels ($4,260), an increase of 4.6% compared to November 2024, when it was 12,989 Shekels ($4,050).

According to the flash estimates for November 2025, the number of salaried jobs for all workers was 4.345 million, an increase of 1.1% compared to October 2025 (4.298 million) and an increase of 2.5% compared to November 2024 (4.241 million).

The number of salaried jobs for Israeli workers (out of the number of salaried jobs for all workers) was 4.111 million, an increase of 1.1% compared to October 2025 (4.067 million) and an increase of 1.7% compared to November 2024 (4.043 million).

Jerusalem, 6 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Earlier today, Tuesday, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) attacked and killed two terrorists from the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Khirbet Salem area in southern Lebanon.

The two terrorists were involved in attempts to rebuild Hezbollah terrorist organization’s military infrastructure, said the IDF.

One of them was an engineering terrorist in the compound who led the organization’s reconstruction efforts.

“The terrorists’ activities were a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,” said the IDF adding that it will “continue to act to remove any threat and protect the State of Israel.”

Jerusalem, 6 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Prime Minister Netanyahu met in Jerusalem with a delegation of parliamentarians from Japan.

The Prime Minister congratulated the members of the delegation on their visit to Israel, and thanked them for standing by Israel throughout the war.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister discussed with the members of the delegation regional challenges and the promotion of cooperation between the countries.