Trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange opened in negative territory on Wednesday, as renewed security tensions in the Middle East and a sharp U.S. response to Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz roiled markets. The TA-35 index fell about 1%, the TA-125 dropped 1.1%, and the TA-90 lost 1.6%. The declines followed Tuesday’s negative trend, when the leading indexes shed about 2% of their value.
The Stock Exchange | Photo: Miriam Elster, Flash 90
The market turbulence comes after the U.S. military launched overnight a sweeping series of strikes against more than 80 targets in Iran, in response to an Iranian attack on three commercial vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Following the severe incidents, the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center raised its threat assessment for vessels in the region to “severe,” while Iran retaliated with strikes on its Gulf neighbors.
The security tensions are directly impacting global oil prices, which continue to spike: Brent crude is trading around $77 per barrel, and WTI crude is trading around $73 per barrel. Meanwhile, the dollar continues to strengthen against the shekel, trading above 3.05 shekels after its representative rate was set Tuesday at 3.02 shekels. The American currency’s strengthening also comes against the backdrop of Bank of Israel Governor’s decision Monday to cut interest rates.
Photo: Shutterstock
In local trading, the banking index rose about 2.23% and the insurance index climbed about 0.84%, boosted by the rate cut to 3.50%. In contrast, Nayax shares plunged about 5.99% after reporting a cybersecurity incident to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other notable stocks posting declines were Delek Group, which lost about 2.43%, and Azrieli, which fell about 1.16%, while Bank Hapoalim led the gainers with a rise of about 2.29%.
Markets are expected to remain volatile as investors monitor further developments in the region and the potential for continued escalation.
President Donald Trump commented today (Wednesday) on the escalating tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, praising the Turkish leader. “I love Erdoğan, he’s great,” Trump said. “Bibi said some harsh things about Turkey yesterday, but thanks to me, Erdoğan stayed out of the war.”
Photo: Reuters
Earlier, Trump also addressed the Iranian threat against him, following reports that his name appears on Tehran’s “kill lists”: “I saw this morning that I appear on all their assassination lists. They are a cancer, and we need to get this tumor out quickly. These are scum of a person, we wasted our time with them, they have no idea what they are doing,” he said sharply.
Trump also used the stage to sharply criticize European members of the alliance, especially Spain. “They are terrible partners for NATO, I will cancel all trade with them,” the president threatened. His comments come amid growing tensions within the organization regarding the security and budgetary commitments of member states.
Israel will establish six new Jewish communities in the Benjamin region in the coming months with an investment of tens of millions of shekels, the regional council announced. The initiative, based on a cabinet decision, aims to counter what officials describe as a ‘Palestinian’ Authority takeover plan in the area.
The Benjamin Regional Council is advancing what it calls one of the most significant national and strategic moves in the region in recent decades. Three communities will be built in western Benjamin and three in the east, designed to change the reality on the ground during what officials describe as a historic political window of opportunity.
In May 2026, we reported that 18 new towns were approved in Samaria under Governor Yossi Dagan’s “Reconnection Plan.” According the plan, the towns include four that were uprooted in 2005: Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim, plus 14 new communities. Some of them have already received government approval while the rest are pending cabinet authorization.
Judea and Samaria | Photo courtesy: Haim Goldberg, Flash 90
The move is based on a security cabinet decision to establish and regulate new Jewish communities. The council will invest tens of millions of shekels to build six full towns out of 13 points approved by the cabinet. The new towns will be established in two strategic wings: along the mountain ridge in western Benjamin, bridging Jerusalem and central Israel, and in eastern Benjamin—in buffer zones controlling the Jordan Valley. These towns are expected to join Maoz Tzur, which was successfully established several months ago.
Judea and Samaria | Photo courtesy: Elia Aviv News 14
For years, these extensive areas stood without permanent Jewish presence. Under the controversial “Fayyad Plan,” the ‘Palestinian’ Authority identified the geopolitical importance of the area and began systematic illegal takeover of the land, aiming to choke off main arteries from the west and create a hostile continuum from the east. The establishment of the new towns represents what officials call a proactive Zionist response restoring Jewish hold and sovereignty, ensuring unshakeable Israeli control over Route 443 and national transportation arteries.
The new communities going up are: In western Benjamin—Natuf, Zivda, and Naot Harim—to fortify the seam line and defend the country’s narrow waist. In eastern Benjamin—Diya, Metzukei Eretz, and Kanfei Shachar—to guard the buffer zones overlooking the valley.
Judea and Samaria | Photo courtesy: not available
Benjamin Governor and Yesha Council chairman Israel Gantz called the move historic. “We are now leading together with the government and cabinet a first-rate move and deepening our hold in our homeland. In places where Jews haven’t walked for thousands of years, where our forefathers lived, we are establishing communities and making the heartland flourish,” Gantz said. “The equation here is simple: either we will be here, living in the State of Israel and establishing pioneering communities, or Ramallah and Iran’s terror regime will rule over the hills that look directly onto Ben Gurion Airport and Gush Dan.”
Gantz added an optimistic and combative message ahead of summer: “This coming summer, when millions of Israelis leave Ben Gurion Airport and fly off on vacation, they’ll be able to look down and know there’s a strong human chain on the ground protecting them. We’re not waiting, we’re bringing the Zionist vision to the ground and ensuring this piece of land remains Israeli forever.”
Head of the Binyamin Council, Israel Gantz | Photo: Jonathan Zindel, Flash 90
Gantz continued: “A historic move like this is made possible thanks to the deep partnership and backing we receive from the political echelon. I want to thank from the bottom of my heart Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Central Command chief Major General Avi Bluth, our partners at Amana and the Nachala movement, and the other bodies working with us shoulder to shoulder and enabling us to advance and develop Judea and Samaria.”
Bar Kupershtein, who was released after 738 days in Hamas captivity, is starting over—and looking for an apartment to rent. In a story posted to his Instagram account, he asked his tens of thousands of followers for help, writing: “After a long period, it’s time to turn a new page. I’m moving to a new apartment, starting from zero.”
Photo by: Bar Kupershtein’s Instagram page
The former hostage then asked for help getting items for the move: “If anyone has furniture or appliances in good condition that they no longer need, or knows someone who’s giving away or selling at a fair price—I’d really appreciate it if you’d think of me.” He immediately followed up with a detailed list of what he’s looking for, adding: “Anything that can help with a new home.”
Kupershtein invited anyone who wanted to help to send him a private message, and thanked in advance everyone who would take part and help him through the process. Hours later, he was flooded with messages from many offering to help: “You have no idea how much I love you all. I can’t keep up with the pace of the messages. It’s really moving how everyone wants to help me. You have no idea how much you’ve moved me.”
Photo by: Flash90
Just about two months ago, the former hostage announced he was returning to work at the business he founded years before his abduction—Bar on the Tow Truck, which provides motorcycle towing and transport services. According to him, the business vehicle he drove to the Nova music festival on October 7 remained undamaged—something that made him realize he needed to continue the operation.
As he noted in his book “Unbroken,” which tells the story of his kidnapping and captivity, for years his family lived in rented apartments. After the serious car accident that left his father Tal requiring full-time care, the family had to bring in a caregiver—which led Bar to vacate his room at home and move in with his grandparents. While he was in captivity, the family moved to a new apartment, which he returned to immediately upon his release.
A State Comptroller report released Tuesday paints a disturbing picture of Israel’s handling of human trafficking for prostitution, revealing significant gaps in enforcement, victim identification, protection, and care.
The comptroller warns of under-enforcement of crimes related to prostitution and sex trafficking. He emphasizes these are serious criminal offenses that violate human dignity, freedom, and bodily integrity.
The report also notes that even six years after a law banning the purchase of sex took effect, enforcement remains inadequate. Implementation of measures to combat trafficking, protect victims, and provide care is described in the report as “deficient and lacking.”
Illustration | photo by: Shutterstock
According to data in the report, in 2014 an estimated 12,000 women and men were involved in prostitution in Israel, including roughly 1,300 minors. Experts in the field estimate that in 2025, the number of minors in prostitution stands at 3,000 to 5,000.
The comptroller is calling on police and the Justice Ministry to step up enforcement, and on the Population and Immigration Authority to ensure it grants residency permits to trafficking victims in accordance with its procedures. Implementing these recommendations is necessary, he says, for Israel to meet its legal and moral obligations.
Knesset member Ayman Odeh backed Egyptian national team coach Hossam Hassan on Tuesday after Hassan used a FIFA press conference to express support for ‘Palestinians’, declaring: “Whoever does not feel the suffering of the ‘Palestinian’ people is not human.”
Egyptian team coach, Hossam Hassan, in an Anti-Israeli display | Photo by: Reuters
Hassan waved a PLO flag and echoed anti-Israel rhetoric: “The ‘Palestinian’ people live in open areas and among tents, facing heavy suffering in every detail. Raising the ‘Palestinian’ flag is a message of support and justice for this people.”
Odeh, who regularly attacks Israel without hesitation, recently criticized the war with Iran sharply: “The Israeli government has chosen that we live under the sword forever. We will continue to oppose this approach forever. Until life defeats the sword of death.”
Ayman Odeh | photo: Jonathan Sindel/Flash90
Earlier this year, Odeh even called for civil disobedience by Israeli Arabs, claiming it was the solution to violence and crime in Arab society: “To live without crime gangs and without weapons, we demonstrated and shouted for years from our blood to our children. We demanded, and there is no response. This is deliberate abandonment.”
Following a compromise proposal by Supreme Court justices hearing petitions against Yehuda Eliahu’s appointment as director of the Israel Land Authority (ILA), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Haim Katz announced they’re accepting the judges’ recommendation—but only partially.
Yehuda Eliyahu | photo by: The Ministry of Defense
Under the original proposal, two members of the search committee who faced conflict-of-interest allegations would be replaced, and the reconstituted committee would re-interview the three candidates who competed for the position before making a new decision. Meanwhile, until the renewed search process is completed, an acting director would be appointed to the ILA.
The government accepted the proposal to replace the two committee members and bring the three other candidates back for interviews before the new committee. But Yehuda Eliahu will remain in the position until either an acting ILA director is found or the new search committee completes its work. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has not yet responded to the government’s proposal.
Behind the proposal is the attorney general’s position announced about a week and a half ago that the state would not defend Eliahu’s appointment, arguing that “the accumulation of flaws in the search and appointment process justifies its cancellation.” On the other hand, Eliahu ranked first in the search committee with a score of 93, and his appointment was approved by the prime minister, finance minister, and construction and housing minister.
The battle over the appointment began earlier this year, when Eliahu—head of the Judea and Samaria Division in the Defense Ministry and considered close to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—emerged as the leading candidate for the position. Even before his selection, the appointment sparked fierce opposition from groups and organizations who claimed the eligibility requirements for the position were changed and lowered in a way that enabled his candidacy, while other candidates with more extensive experience in land management and planning were pushed aside.
Gali Baharv-Miara | photo by: Jonathan Sindel/Flash90
Despite the opposition, the search committee recommended Eliahu in late April by a vote of four members to one dissenting member. The committee determined he was the most suitable candidate for the position, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Smotrich, and Construction and Housing Minister Haim Katz subsequently adopted the recommendation and formally approved the appointment. The Prime Minister’s Office even emphasized that Eliahu received the highest professional ranking among the candidates reviewed.
The position at the center of this legal battle is no routine job. The Israel Land Authority manages about 93% of state lands, is responsible for marketing land for construction, advancing new neighborhoods, and a central part of Israel’s housing policy. Because of this, the identity of its director has a direct impact on the real estate market, housing development, and the state’s land reserves for many years to come.
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure announced today (Tuesday) an update on the new offshore natural gas pipeline project between Ashdod and Ashkelon. The ministry described the national infrastructure project as a significant milestone in developing Israel’s energy sector.
Photo: Shutterstock
The project is designed to strengthen Israel’s energy security and ensure reliable, continuous natural gas supply to the economy. The new pipeline, spanning approximately 46 kilometers, is expected to significantly improve redundancy and operational flexibility in the national transmission system. It will also help meet the growing demand in southern Israel.
Chaim Melamed, Senior Director of Engineering and Safety Supervisor at the Natural Gas Authority, said: “This is a national and complex project of very high importance to the energy sector that enables improved reliability and functional continuity and increased redundancy of the transmission system. The pipeline will enable increased supply capacity to the domestic market and for export.”
Photo: Hillel Meir, Flash90
Beyond the domestic response, the project is expected to enable expansion of Israel’s natural gas exports to Egypt. This move will increase state revenues, deepen regional cooperation, and establish Israel’s position as a central energy player in the region, while strengthening economic and strategic ties between the countries.
US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are currently holding a joint statement in Ankara, following their meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit, which is being held against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the escalation in the Middle East, and efforts to reshape the global security order.
Photo by: The White House
Trump praised the Turkish president, saying: “You are a great and respected leader all over the world. We have good chemistry.” He also addressed the sale of F-35s to Turkey, stating: “That’s a decision we’re going to make. Why wouldn’t we do it? Turkey has been more loyal than other countries. It’s something we’re considering.”
The meeting takes place at a sensitive time in Washington-Ankara relations, amid reports in the United States that Trump is exploring the possibility of restoring Turkey to the advanced F-35 fighter jet program, after it was expelled in 2019 following its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. If the move goes forward, it is expected to spark a sharp political controversy in the US Congress.
F-35, Illustration | photo by: Shutterstock
The talks between the two are also expected to focus on the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Gaza Strip and Syria, US-Turkey relations, expanding defense cooperation between the countries, and Trump’s demand that NATO nations increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul sharply criticized Hamas’s announcement that it would transfer Gaza governance to a national committee. Saar made clear this is a “trick” inspired by Hezbollah, designed to let the terror group dodge disarmament commitments it made under Trump’s peace plan while “maintaining control through repression.” German Foreign Minister Wadephul backed him up: “Hamas must be disarmed.”
Photo by: Eran Yardeni, GPO
FM Saar explained: “Hamas is trying to replicate the Hezbollah model in Gaza. Hamas’s latest trick is very simple. It says it will ‘make room’ for a technocratic government just to evade disarmament. It doesn’t care if others collect the garbage, provide municipal services, and handle civilian affairs, as long as Hamas maintains control while repressing ‘Palestinians’ in Gaza and continues its jihad against Israel.”
He added that Israel insists on implementing President Trump’s plan as written, with its core demand being the disarmament of Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza and full demilitarization of the Strip. “There is no real path to a different future for Gaza as long as Hamas holds onto its weapons,” he said.
Hamas terrorists in the Gaza strip| photo by: Flash90
At the meeting between the two, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reinforced Saar’s position: “We are very clear that the plan for the Gaza Strip must be implemented in its entirety, and therefore I fully support your words—Hamas must be disarmed. Everyone who signed this agreement must use their influence with Hamas so that the terror organization relinquishes its actual control of the Strip, grants ‘Palestinians’ the freedom they deserve, and does not rearm against Israel.”
Hamas announced yesterday it was resigning and transferring Gaza governance to a national committee, in a move presented as “preparation for establishing a technocratic government.” In practice, the move isn’t expected to shift power centers in the Strip, since control remains in Hamas’s hands, and the group’s members are expected to continue staffing key positions during the transition period.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar | Photo: Jonatan Sindel/Flash90
In a statement from Hamas’s government media office, the chairman of the emergency committee submitted his resignation, and a technical and professional team will continue ensuring services to civilians. The statement added that current government institution heads will serve as a temporary body until the transition process is completed.
According to the announcement, until the technocratic government is established, a temporary transitional government will operate in the Strip, headed by Abd al-Hadi al-Agha, former director-general of the Ministry of Endowments and Holy Sites under Hamas and a member of the organization. This means that despite the declaration of a change in government, Gaza’s management is expected to continue under figures identified with Hamas.
