Economy

Ten months after official announcements, flights from Kiryat Shmona remain grounded due to operational hurdles, security delays, and a 21 million shekel funding gap.

Israel faces a critical shortage of over 10,000 professional truck drivers, causing port bottlenecks, surging transport costs, and threatening major infrastructure projects like the national metro.

Discount supermarket chain Super Sapir launched a new branch in Be'er Tuvia with an investment of 4 million shekels. The expansion aims to boost competition and provide affordable shopping options in southern Israel.

Israeli tech firm Karta Sense has filed for a stay of proceedings with the Central District Court, reporting 13 million shekels in debt and 34 million shekels in accumulated losses. The supply chain monitoring pioneer aims to sell its business and IP.

Israeli infrastructure firm Y.D. Barazani raised 1 billion shekels in its Tel Aviv Stock Exchange IPO at a 3.25 billion shekel valuation, drawing institutional demand.

Author David Grossman has lowered the asking price of his multi-level home in Mevaseret Zion to 4.85 million shekels. The unrenovated property overlooks the Judean Hills.

The Southern District Planning Committee deposited a major urban renewal plan for Eilat's HaArava neighborhood, replacing 162 older units with 487 modern apartments across 27 dunams to boost safety and housing supply.

Caesarstone faces deep uncertainty as it prepares its third-quarter earnings report following a massive court ruling, severe legal liabilities over silicosis claims, and a 98% drop from its historic peak valuation.

A Brussels Airlines flight to Tel Aviv returned to Belgium after a technical glitch, while a United Airlines flight to Newark made an emergency landing in Greece due to a cabin odor.

Israel's Competition Authority has recommended barring Gadot and Dor Chemicals from operating Haifa's new public chemical terminal to prevent market concentration and protect trade competition.

Mekorot signed a major agreement to upgrade water infrastructure in Kazakhstan's Abai region, a project expected to generate tens of millions of dollars for Israeli firms.

Mer Group announced that its subsidiary secured government contracts in West Africa worth 46 million euros to provide advanced intelligence, cyber security, and infrastructure protection solutions over 24 months.

Burger King is expanding its footprint in Israel with six new branches backed by multi-million-shekel investments, charting a new growth strategy following years of market shifts.

The Beersheba District Court is reviewing a petition against phosphate mining near the Ein Yeriqam spring in the Negev. Environmentalists contest the wartime approval process, while ICL defends the project for supporting regional jobs.

Israel's self-employed workers face a December 31 deadline to claim thousands of NIS in tax benefits through pensions and advanced training funds before annual caps expire.

Israel's Electricity Authority proposed a solar market reform prioritizing grid connections by lowest tariff, risking investments for farmers and peripheral businesses.

Latvian airline airBaltic and Lufthansa Group signed a new wet-lease agreement, drastically cutting capacity by over 70% amid financial restructuring and a Chapter 11 process in the USA.

Osem-Nestle is investing tens of millions of shekels to launch PRO FIBER, enriching everyday products like snacks, pasta, and hummus with protein and dietary fiber.

Bank of Jerusalem extends its official sponsorship of Hapoel Jerusalem basketball club for the 2026/27 season, continuing a partnership focused on community support and athletic excellence.

The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by a housing developer, upholding a ruling requiring it to pay 9 million shekels to buyers over severe delays in Kiryat Shmona.

American fund KKR is selling its uncompleted data center shell in Petah Tikva to Nofar Energy for $85 million. The deal provides Nofar with pre-existing power infrastructure amid sector shortages.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has secured final federal approval from the OCC to operate as a national trust company in the United States, bridging digital assets with traditional finance.

Israeli retail sales slowed sharply in the third quarter with an annualized growth rate of 0.8%, driven by a 4.5% decline in supermarket purchases as consumer spending cools following early-year stockpiling.

Major Israeli financial institutions face class-action lawsuits over hidden tracking pixels in emails, raising significant data privacy concerns regarding unauthorized customer monitoring.

Bingo Real Estate has unveiled plans to transform an industrial site in Jerusalem's Mekor Baruch neighborhood into the Rashi Jerusalem luxury residential and commercial complex, boosting property values amid rising housing demand.

The Bank of Israel granted British fintech giant Revolut a conditional banking license, marking the third new bank approved in the country after a four-decade hiatus.

Calcalist CEO Noa Tamir is stepping down amid a sweeping leadership overhaul at Yedioth Ahronoth group. Her departure follows a wave of high-level exits, alongside leadership changes at the Ynet news portal.

Israeli company NewMed Energy is evaluating the acquisition of a 60% stake in a Venezuelan oil firm, marking a strategic push into South America following recent regime changes.

Arcaffe cafe chain has entered advanced due diligence to acquire Arkia Israeli Airlines, joining competing bids from Israir and El Al as the carrier faces projected annual losses of up to 60 million dollars.

The Israeli government has increased official vehicle allocations for senior officials by 17.6% since 2023, while delaying a cost-saving leasing transition and canceling a major electric vehicle tender.

Ari Real Estate, controlled by Tzahi Abu, agreed to acquire a 407-dunam industrial complex in Beersheba from Adama and Lycored for 110 million NIS. The contaminated site, previously marketed for 300 million NIS, will generate 7.7 million NIS in annual rent.

Givatayim is promoting three urban renewal projects to add 2,500 housing units, commercial spaces, and schools. Building permits along the planned metro corridor are strictly conditioned on the metro's operation.

Defense tech giant Rafael has signed a 32 million shekel lease for two additional floors at Haifa's Science and High-Tech Park, bringing its total recent investments in the park to 77 million shekels.

Israeli consumers approach the November shopping season with sophisticated strategies, utilizing early price tracking, deal reservations, and alternative stores to outsmart retail promotions.

Ashlei Liran secured a building permit for an urban renewal project in Tel Aviv's Neve Sharet, replacing 24 old apartments with an 80-unit residential building.

Almog Group has demolished an old building in Tel Aviv's Yad Eliyahu to build Gallipolis, a 7-story residential project with 69 apartments, underground parking, and modern amenities.

Global tourism leaders warn of rising airline ticket prices as jet fuel costs outpace wages. Executives from Booking Holdings and Ryanair cite soaring expenses and geopolitical instability impacting travel demand.

UN climate talks in Antalya highlight growing financial risks from extreme weather. Experts warn that localized climate disruptions directly impact corporate debt, asset values, and insurance terms.

Israel's financial assets have reached a record 7.6 trillion shekels, driven by robust economic growth and a surging private wealth sector, according to Leader Private Capital CEO Itai Alnatan.