Industry

Shmuel Donnerstein returns as chairman of Rav-Bariach, while Tal Kenani takes over as CEO of the door and building-products manufacturer early next year.

According to a report by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, pollutant emissions in Israel declined in 2025. The primary drivers were reduced coal usage at power plants and a decrease in industrial activity due to the ongoing war.

The Rotem Amfert Negev plant, which employs thousands of workers in the south, is at a crossroads after appeals against the phosphogypsum reservoir expansion plan were referred to the National Planning and Building Council.

Tens of thousands of job vacancies remain unfilled, factories are left without labor, and bureaucracy is stalling the economy. Despite record demand following the war, foreign worker quotas cover only a fraction of the need, while Israelis remain unwilling to take on production line roles.

World press headlines: The Iranian UAV that "changed the face of modern warfare" relies on components from China and costs only about $20,000; in Germany, they are examining the production of parts for the Iron Dome at a Volkswagen plant that is in danger of closing; and in the US, the British organization Palestine Action has been declared a terrorist organization. Globes presents a daily short...

Tens of thousands of skilled workers who immigrated from the former USSR in the 90s are approaching retirement. In the industry, the rate of former USSR immigrants aged 60 and over is 2.3 times higher than the average in the economy. The President of the Manufacturers Association stated that the next government must act urgently.

The shekel-dollar exchange rate daily impacts decisions on industrial investment in Israel. The government should adjust tax policy to incentivize domestic production, not just exports.

Minister of Economy Nir Barkat met with the leadership of Lockheed Martin's aviation division to discuss new avenues for collaboration with Israeli technology and cyber companies.

In 2018, journalist Katie Weaver visited the Glitterex factory in New Jersey and tried to uncover their largest buyer. She was met with a refusal, as the company hinted that the client does not want the public to know that their products contain glitter. This sparked an internet mystery that continues to this day.

The attempt to integrate artificial intelligence systems into industry faces difficult obstacles of dust, humidity, and noise, and the chairman of Klil warns of the consequences of inaccuracy on production lines.

Industrial land prices in National Priority Area A have jumped 5.7-fold in nine years. Due to an outdated discount ceiling, the incentives for establishing factories in the periphery have been effectively neutralized.