Society

Today there will be a relief in the heatwave, but heavy to extreme heat loads will continue to prevail throughout the country. Tomorrow and Wednesday there will be slight drops in temperatures but it will still continue to be hotter than usual for the season and heavy to extreme heat loads. On Thursday, temperatures will be normal for the season and further relief in heat loads will be felt.

The epicenter of the 5.4 magnitude quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). Many residents in Israel's southern region reported feeling tremors and received alerts on their mobile phones.

A new public transport reliability index in Israel reveals significant service quality gaps between regions. The study, developed by the '15 Minutes' organization, combines official data with real-time passenger feedback.

Despite previous efforts by some officials to preserve the 'Dor Tza'ir' neighborhood in Kfar Aza, the state has officially informed the Supreme Court that it supports the residents' decision to demolish it and relocate the memorial. The entrance to the site is currently being moved outside the kibbutz boundaries, and a 'green fence' will be installed to separate it from the community.

Full night closures will take place on major traffic arteries in the Gush Dan area. In the coming nights, sections of the Ayalon lanes northbound and Highway 2 southbound will be closed for the installation of signage on bridges.

Amid a severe heat wave, a wildfire broke out in a wooded area near Moshav Ksalon. Approximately 30 firefighting teams and aerial units are battling the blaze. Due to the threat to property, the first line of homes in the Magilot HaEsh neighborhood has been evacuated.

A brush fire spread rapidly near Zalafa, prompting the deployment of four aircraft to protect nearby homes. In Lachish, firefighters contained a blaze that threatened a local factory. No casualties were reported.

Three months after land was allocated based on false claims, the religious community has been asked to collect hundreds of letters to manufacture a 'local need.' The Hiddush organization accuses the municipality of selling out secular residents for political deals.

The heat wave affecting Israel since Thursday reaches its peak today (Sunday) and is expected to subside in two days. According to the head of the meteorological service, additional heat waves are possible later in August, and the interaction between the warm Mediterranean Sea and autumn cooling may lead to extreme weather events later this year.

The Israel Electric Corporation notified residents of a planned outage between 09:00 and 16:00 for branch trimming near cables, precisely on a day of extreme heat. Following the protest, it was stated that "the work is essential due to a safety hazard, and an effort will be made to finish it within four hours."

Temperatures will rise slightly today, bringing hot conditions to the mountains and inland areas, with humidity on the coastal plain. Winds will strengthen in the afternoon, and while a gradual cooling trend begins tomorrow, heavy heat stress will persist throughout the week.

Where to volunteer this week: The "Sordim" association is seeking volunteers for home visits to Holocaust survivors. The "Lev HaSh" association needs workshop facilitators for parents of children with cancer in Haifa. The Association for the Advancement of Education in Tel Aviv is looking for drivers to distribute food, and other opportunities are available nationwide.

Temperatures reached 40 degrees at noon in large parts of the country, 43 were measured at the Sea of Galilee, and they climbed to 45 in the Jordan Valley. Despite the heavy heat, tens of thousands visited nature reserves. The peak of the wave arrives tomorrow, with initial relief expected on Monday.

MDA medics and paramedics were called to Neve Yam beach following a report of a drowning. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation, updates to follow.

The weather will be hotter than usual and throughout the country an increase in heat stress will be felt ahead of the peak that will occur tomorrow. On Monday there will be a drop in temperatures, while on Tuesday the heatwave will begin to break.

Good news for motorists: the southbound Begin Highway opened to traffic this morning four hours ahead of schedule following the installation of new bicycle bridges.

Due to infrastructure works for the construction of a bridge, one of the main traffic arteries in Israel is expected to be hermetically closed for an entire night. The driving public is requested to stay updated in advance on traffic changes and to travel via alternative routes.

121 local authorities have requested exceptional municipal tax increases for 2027, yet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to sign the necessary guidelines. Meanwhile, Wall Street is reeling from Big Tech earnings reports, Elon Musk has lost his trillionaire status, and in Israel, a violent attack on the News 12 building highlights the ongoing degradation of public discourse.

The weather today (Friday) will be generally clear, but warmer than usual, with heatwave conditions (sharav) in the mountains and inland. Along the coastal plain, it will continue to be humid and stifling, with heavy to extreme heat loads prevailing in most parts of the country. The public is urged to prepare accordingly, drink plenty of water, and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight...

The Israel Fire and Rescue Authority has issued a special announcement ahead of the weekend. Commissioner Rav Tafsar Eyal Caspi has signed an order prohibiting the lighting of fires due to an expected heatwave, which significantly increases the risk of massive wildfires in open areas.

A man aged approximately 60 was pulled from the water near Neve Yam beach. MADA paramedics provided emergency care on-site before transporting him to Rambam Hospital, where he remains in serious condition under sedation and intubation.

A 26-year-old woman was seriously injured while riding a jet ski on the Sea of Galilee. The report was received at 11:20 at the MDA 101 dispatch center in the Jordan region, and medics provided her with emergency care before evacuating her to Poriya Medical Center with a head injury.

Residents of the Tzufim settlement in Samaria have been issued demands to pay 5% of their land's current market value to register their properties. With costs reaching up to 90,000 shekels, many residents are protesting the unexpected financial burden.

Ahead of a significant increase in heat loads, the head of the Meteorological Service, Dr. Amir Givati, said in an interview with the ynet studio: "The Galilee and Golan areas will be scorching." Relief is expected only on Tuesday, and a warning is issued to travelers: "Every small spark can turn into a big fire."

An extreme heatwave is expected to hit Israel over the weekend, and the electricity system is preparing for a sharp rise in demand following the increased use of air conditioners and household electrical appliances. The increase in consumption may strain the system and even lead to localized malfunctions or overloads in the grid.

A significant heatwave is expected to begin today, Thursday, and continue throughout the weekend. Temperatures will rise and heat stress will intensify, reaching its peak on Saturday.

Municipal property tax (Arnona) is set to rise automatically by 3.05% in 2027, but many local authorities have requested additional exceptional increases from the Ministry of Interior, reaching as high as 33%. The business sector has announced its intention to fight these measures.

The Begin Highway in Jerusalem will close again in the southbound direction to facilitate ongoing work on the public transport lane. This is the first of three scheduled closures occurring between Thursday evening and Friday morning.

A lifeguard who was called to Shikmim Beach located the two at a distance of more than 600 meters from the shore and returned them safely • The Kinneret Cities Association warns: enter the water only at designated beaches and avoid the windy hours.

After extensive renovation work and adaptation to the highest standards, the municipal field will host its first match in the National League tomorrow as the local team takes to the upgraded pitch in front of the home crowd.

A fire in the Sha'ar HaNegev industrial zone has shut down the Tapugan factory. The blaze destroyed approximately 6,000 tons of potatoes, though no product shortages are expected in stores.

On Monday, 400 bus drivers from the "Tnufa" company launched a wildcat strike protesting poor maintenance and wage uncertainty. Local authorities in Samaria and Jerusalem have demanded that the Ministry of Transport intervene and withdraw the company's operating lines.

The National Insurance Institute has updated that public reception at the Bnei Brak branch will be suspended until mid-August, with further closures planned across the country later in the month due to the "Bein HaZmanim" period.

The Ministry of Transport has significantly reinforced bus lines to ultra-Orthodox centers and leisure destinations. Over the next two weeks, lines to spots such as Safed, Meron, and separate beaches in Ashkelon will be expanded at the expense of other routes. The Ministry states that resources are being allocated efficiently based on seasonal demand.

MDA teams evacuated a teenager found unconscious in Kafr Manda to Rambam Hospital. Witnesses reported that the boy had apparently been electrocuted.

A truck trailer caught fire on Highway 6, near the Kiryat Gat interchange. Firefighters who arrived at the scene identified the trailer as being completely engulfed in flames, alongside an immediate danger of the fire spreading to nearby brush areas. There are no casualties in the incident.

Firefighting crews from the Galil-Golan station and the 'Elad' aerial squadron contained a fire in the Nof Kinneret neighborhood of Safed. Two people sustained light injuries during the operation on the steep slope and were evacuated by Magen David Adom.

Traffic changes on the route to the capital: Due to maintenance and safety work on the Motza Bridge, Highway 1 eastbound will be closed starting Thursday at 22:00 for 12 hours. Alternative routes are provided.

An urgent notice published this morning warns of heavy and particularly severe heat loads in several central areas of the country, with temperatures in some cities already climbing above 40 degrees.

The appeals subcommittee's decision regarding Mikve Israel does not truly open the complex to the public. Instead of a park, residents are offered only a restricted passage with limited access hours.