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Ben Gurion tightens security after teens sneak onto flights without tickets

adin — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:30:51 +0000

Following two infiltrations of teens onto flights from Ben Gurion International Airport, the Israel Airports Authority has decided to take steps to upgrade the outbound passenger process, aiming to prevent additional incidents.

Earlier this week, an Israeli teen, approximately 18 years old, managed to sneak onto an Austrian Airlines plane without a boarding pass. Only when he landed in Vienna did the Austrians discover he had no flight ticket, and he was returned to Israel. The case occurred about two months after another severe failure during which a 13-year-old boarded a flight from Ben Gurion to the US without a flight ticket. He slipped past all security circles by staying close to other passengers.

Passengers at Ben Gurion International Airport (Photo: Yossi Zeliger)

Following the incidents, conclusions were drawn, and boarding pass verification will now be conducted at the initial screening stage at Ben Gurion International Airport.

What has changed? Until now, passengers moved through various stages – from terminal entry to aircraft boarding – without needing to show flight tickets at certain points. Now, through a gradual rollout, travelers will be required to present boarding passes even at stages where this was not previously necessary.

Important to know: During the initial implementation phases, wait times may extend beyond normal, and queues at certain airport junctions may stretch longer than usual. The initiative is being deployed in learning phases, with full completion anticipated over the coming year.

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Thousands of Israelis receive text messages from Iranian Intelligence

omrif — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 08:54:53 +0000

Thousands of Israelis received a suspicious text message on their mobile phones on Thursday, apparently originating from Iran, inviting them to cooperate with Iranian intelligence agencies.

The message, written in English, read: "Iranian intelligence agencies are ready to receive your intelligence cooperation. To cooperate, contact one of the Iranian embassies via the internet."

Israel's National Cyber Directorate said it was aware of the message and issued clear instructions to the public.

What should you do?

Ignore the message completely. Do not respond and do not attempt to contact the sender. Block the sending number, mark it as spam, and do not forward the message, in order to prevent unnecessary dissemination.

Against the backdrop of more than 30 espionage-related cases exposed by the Shin Bet security agency over the past two and a half years, Israeli security officials say Iran has been carrying out widespread "spray and pray" recruitment efforts online. These attempts target normative citizens and span a broad range of sectors across Israeli society.

Investigations and indictments show that the overwhelming majority of Israelis involved were aware they were cooperating with Iran. In many cases, the initial approach was made directly through social media platforms, with messages such as: "Hello, this is Iranian intelligence. You can help us and we will help you in return for money."

According to the indictments, Israelis who established contact with Iranian handlers often began with tasks they perceived as harmless, such as photographing streets, signs or vandalizing vehicles. Over time, however, they were directed to carry out serious security-related missions. These included photographing the streets near the homes of public figures, reaching hospitals where prominent individuals were being treated, and even attempts to obtain weapons.

Israeli security officials stress that raising public awareness of the consequences of cooperating with Iranian elements, and the severe harm such ties pose to national security, is essential. The goal, they say, is to ensure that Israelis who receive suspicious approaches online or from Iranian sources understand the gravity of their actions and the seriousness of such contact with an enemy state.

Ongoing dialogue is being held with local authorities to strengthen public awareness and resilience in light of the many cases uncovered. Several months ago, Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate launched a broad public campaign highlighting the dangers and consequences of establishing contact with hostile Iranian elements.

Espionage for Iran (illustrative). Photo: Netalie Ron-Raz Netalie Ron-Raz

Iranian espionage by the numbers

The Shin Bet has reported a 200% increase from 2024 to 2025 in counter espionage prevention activity carried out by its counterterrorism and counterintelligence division. This has involved dozens of cases, including warning calls, arrests and interrogations.

There has also been a rise of more than 30% in the number of arrests and investigations related to Iranian espionage between 2024 and 2025.

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Netanyahu announces gas deal with Egypt

omrif — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 20:30:33 +0000

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday evening that Israel had finalized a natural gas export deal with Egypt, which he described as "the largest in Israel's history."

In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said the total value of the deal was estimated at about 112 billion shekels, roughly $34 billion, with 58 billion shekels, about $18 billion, expected to flow into state coffers.

Leviathan gas field. Photo: Albertos

At the same time as Netanyahu's announcement, NewMed Energy reported to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange that it had received approval to export natural gas to Egypt. The authorization, granted by the Energy Ministry, allows the implementation of the export agreement signed in August, which is valued at approximately $35 billion.

As part of the approval, assurances were given that Israel would maintain attractive domestic natural gas prices and that gas supplies to the local market would be secured. The decision also paves the way for a final investment decision on the expansion of the Leviathan gas field, a move expected to significantly increase production capacity from the reservoir.

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Qatar establishes presence in Jerusalem via hospital funding

adin — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 15:25:20 +0000

St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, located not far from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's office, announced last night the signing of a "grant and cooperation agreement with the Qatar Fund for Development, known as QFFD."

According to the hospital's announcement, the partnership aims to "transform St. Joseph Hospital-Jerusalem into an academic medical institution and provide clinical training for students in various health professions." The statement further noted that the project is "funded and supported by four partners: the French Development Agency (AFD), the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the European Union, and St. Joseph Hospital."

The signing ceremony for the agreement took place in Doha, Qatar, on December 8, 2025. Jamil Kusa, the hospital's director general, said, "We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Qatar Fund for Development. This partnership is not just a financial agreement; it is a lifeline for thousands of patients who rely on our services. This cooperation will enable us to renovate our facilities, and most importantly – expand our reach to those who need it most."

A general view of Jerusalem shows the Dome of the Rock, located in Jerusalem's Old City (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Ran Ichay, head of research at the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy (JCAP), responded by saying that "Qatar, the major supporter of Hamas alongside Turkey's Erdogan, continues to buy its way into Jerusalem with substantial funding. Its consistent ally is France, which throughout the war has demonstrated an almost consistently anti-Israel policy."

Ichay, former Israeli ambassador to Kazakhstan and former director general of the Ministry of Jerusalem, added, "France, in its foolishness and inherent anti-Israel stance, joins Qatar, and not for the first time, including support for radical Islam, incitement, and terrorism. Now the consistent channel is the French St. Joseph Hospital in Jerusalem, located near the National Headquarters and the National Security Minister's office on one side, and the Turkish consulate, which is another hub for subversion in the city, on the other."

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Chance of Israel-Egypt $35B gas deal advances

miriw — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 08:00:16 +0000

Negotiations are advancing between Israel and Egypt, with American mediation, to finalize a massive gas agreement. Sources involved in the details told Israel Hayom that significant progress has been made on the economic aspects of the deal and partial progress on the political dimensions.

The landmark deal centers on gas supplies from the Leviathan gas field to Egypt through 2040, valued at $35 billion. Until now, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Energy Minister Eli Cohen, whose signatures are essential for ratifying the agreement, have delayed its ratification to resolve related complications. According to sources, the chances of the deal being signed are now growing.

An oil platform in Israel's offshore Leviathan gas field is seen from on board the Israeli Navy Ship Atzmaut as a submarine patrols, in the Mediterranean Sea, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 (Photo: AP/Ariel Schalit) AP

On the political-security front, Israel has demanded that Egypt cease violations of the peace treaty, primarily the introduction of military forces into Sinai. Additionally, Egypt has constructed tunnels in the peninsula and extended airfield runways. According to information received by Israel Hayom, there is no Egyptian commitment to roll back forces west of the Suez Canal or to refrain from future violations.

Sources say there is a principled American statement that it guarantees the peace agreement, but no concrete Egyptian steps will accompany the implementation of the gas deal. This difficult problem will be resolved over time through diplomatic means, they say. They note that Egypt's dependence on gas supplies from Israel will position Israel in a much stronger position to make demands of Cairo.

The United States has pressed Israel heavily to advance the agreement, primarily because of Chevron's stake in the Leviathan partnership. Netanyahu and Cohen have resisted the pressure for an extended period, but now the agreement appears to be moving toward signing. One possibility is a meeting between Netanyahu and Egyptian President el-Sisi as part of the concessions for Israeli flexibility. However, there is no certainty that such a meeting will take place, nor is it clear whether it would occur in the United States as a trilateral summit with Trump or bilaterally in the region.

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Israel's most popular baby names revealed for 2024

adin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:30:29 +0000

Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics on first names given to babies born in 2024 revealed that Avigail was the most popular name among Jewish girls, with 1,437 girls receiving it. The name Ayala ranked second (1,182), followed by Sarah in third place (1,151), replacing Tamar, which dropped to fourth place this year.

Among Jewish boys born in 2024, David was the most popular name. A total of 1,842 boys received this name, representing 2.7% of Jewish boys. The second most popular name was Lavi, given to 1,518 babies, and in third place was Ariel with 1,479 babies, a name that rose from fifth place in 2023. This name replaced Yosef in its ranking, which dropped to sixth place.

The bottom line showed that the names in the top ten for girls born in 2023 remained in the top ten for girls born in 2024, with minor changes in the rankings. Among boys, nine of the names in the top ten for babies born in 2023 remained in the top ten for babies born in 2024, with minor changes in the rankings.

According to the data, Muhammad was the most popular name among all babies born in 2024 in Israel and among Muslim boys specifically, with 2,257 boys receiving this name. However, this name has been in a relative decline from 17% in the early 2000s to 11.4% in 2024.

This means that in the early 2000s, one in six Muslim boys received the name Muhammad, while in 2024, only one in nine was named this. Among Muslim girls, the most popular name was Miriam, with 566 girls bearing it.

Data from the bureau revealed that October 7 attacks influenced a decline in the name Be'eri. This name experienced the highest quantitative drop compared to the previous year, from 435 to 92. The bureau noted that this decline may be related to the fact that the name is primarily associated with Kibbutz Be'eri, which was at the center of the events of October 7, 2023.

The data further revealed that the names Eliyah, Ariel, Avigail, and Shilo experienced the highest quantitative increases compared to 2023. It should be noted that Avigail was the most popular name for Jewish girls in both 2023 and 2024. Ayala, which was the second most popular name among Jewish girls, rose slightly (from 1,171 to 1,182), and therefore the gap between it and first place grew.

Among Jewish girls, the traditional names Esther and Sarah were popular in cities with large concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Beit Shemesh, Beitar Illit, Bnei Brak, Modi'in Illit, Jerusalem), while the name Maya was popular primarily in central cities.

Similarly, the traditional names Avraham, David, Yosef and Moshe were popular primarily in cities with large concentrations of ultra-Orthodox Jews (Modi'in Illit, Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Ashdod, Netivot, Elad, Tiberias, Beitar Illit), while the name Adam was popular in Tel Aviv-Jaffa.

The only name given to more than 20 girls in communities was Miriam, while the name Muhammad was very popular, especially in Jerusalem with 462 children. The names Ariel and Uri, as well as Ori, which were in the top ten most popular names for Jewish boys, also appeared in the top ten gender-neutral names.

Out of 3,024 multiple births in which all babies received names, 2,957 were twins and 66 were triplets. Among twins, the most popular name combinations for seven pairs of twins were "Muhammad, Ahmad" as well as "Rafael, Michael." The name pair "Lavi, Ari" was popular with six pairs of twins. Among the 66 triplets, all combinations were unique.

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Minister wears yellow 'noose pin' to promote terrorists' executions

ErezL — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:32:32 +0000

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit colleagues made a provocative statement Monday, arriving at a Knesset committee hearing wearing noose-shaped lapel pins as lawmakers debated legislation authorizing execution of convicted terrorists.

Deliberations on MK Limor Son Har-Melech's "death penalty for terrorists" bill commenced Monday morning before the National Security Committee under Chairman MK Zvika Fogel.

ISIS supporters in Kashmir (Inset: Hamas terrorists) / REUTERS/Ramadan Abed; AFP PHOTO/Tauseef MUSTAFAף

The Otzma Yehudit MKs' decision to come sporting noose-shaped lapel pins was supposed to show their determination to secure capital punishment for terrorists and conveying the message that "terrorists are condemned to die." The pin bears the same color as that worn over the past two years in solidarity with the Gaza hostages held by Hamas.

During the hearing, Ben-Gvir declared, "We all wore these pins, which represent one method we'll employ to carry out the terrorist death penalty statute. Naturally we have the guillotine option, the electric chair option, and lethal injection as well. Since reports emerged that physicians refused to participate in implementing the law, I've fielded 100 inquiries from doctors asking Itamar, just say when."

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Fake police investigation email circulating across Israel

miriw — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:00:38 +0000

Israeli Police warned the public about a fake email circulating with the message "final notice regarding personal investigation summons," which did not originate from law enforcement. The email, allegedly sent from the investigations department, stated: "In accordance with system instructions, a personal file requiring immediate clarification has been opened against you. Please review the summons details and act accordingly. Note: Failure to respond may be considered a serious violation of instructions."

"Recently, inquiries have been received indicating that the public has been sent email or text messages with the heading 'Important message regarding personal investigation summons' containing a link leading to an online review of the summons details."

Police clarified this is a fraudulent message and not an official inquiry (Photo: Getty Images/ Sean Anthony Eddy) Getty Images

Police clarified this is a fraudulent message and not an official inquiry. "This is an attempted fraud or phishing." Officials added that "the link attached to the message leads to a fake page pretending to be a summons review page. In any case where suspicion arises that this is a fraudulent inquiry, and there is concern about a phishing attempt."

Police reminded the public not to click on attached links, download files to computers, and to block the email address or phone number that sent the message.

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Netanyahu: Will not retire from politics in exchange for pardon

omrif — Sat, 06 Dec 2025 23:34:55 +0000

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is currently visiting Israel, held a joint press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Merz's visit comes amid the completion of a major arms deal for Germany's purchase of the Arrow 3 long-range missile-defense system, and the lifting of the partial embargo Germany had imposed in response to the war in Gaza.

During the press conference, which focused on Phase B of the Trump plan, Israeli sovereignty in the Judea and Samaria and ongoing efforts to advance wider regional peace, Netanyahu was asked whether he would step away from politics if he were to receive a pardon. Netanyahu responded briefly and firmly, "No," then turned to Merz with a smile and remarked about the Israeli press, "They are very worried about my political future."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday. Photo: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

"We must not forget that Hamas is the aggressor"

Opening his remarks, Merz said he began the visit at Yad Vashem. "The trauma of the Holocaust is an essential part of Israeli identity and also shapes German identity. Israel has both the right and the duty to protect its people. No country can accept its citizens being kidnapped and murdered, as happened in the kibbutzim. That is why we stood with you when others turned their backs."

"A dilemma emerged," Merz continued. "Germany is committed to Israel's security, but also to human rights and the rule of law. Israel must uphold international law, but it is crucial to understand who the aggressor is. Thanks to President Trump, an agreement was reached and hostages were returned."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz

"As a country at war and as a democratic state governed by law, Israel must be measured by international legal standards in its military actions. At the same time, we must never forget who initiated the aggression: Hamas, which disregards human life and international law."

Merz added that "the second phase in Gaza must now move forward. We will help build a path to peace. Hamas cannot have any role in Gaza. Israelis and Palestinians have suffered, and a new order is needed. A two-state solution will come after negotiations. The Palestinian Authority can be criticized, but we now see attempts at reform that must be supported."

"We expect to move soon to the second phase"

Netanyahu said that disagreements between the countries are those "between friends who respect each other." He added, "Generations after the Holocaust understood the moral obligation to allow the Jewish people to recover, and Germany assumed a commitment to Israel's security. Advancing together will benefit the entire world."

"There are opportunities for peace. The Iranian axis has been dealt heavy blows," he said. "I will discuss with President Trump later this month how to bring about the end of Hamas' role in Gaza, an essential condition for ensuring a different future for both Palestinians and Israelis. We completed the first phase; we are nearly there. One hostage remains—Ran Gvili, a hero of Israel—who must be brought home."

"We expect to move soon to the second phase, which is at least as difficult as the first: achieving the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza. Then comes Phase 3: the de-radicalization of Gaza. This has been done before in Germany, in Japan and in Gulf states."

A broader meeting held earlier at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem included the defense minister, the foreign minister, the acting national security adviser, the Defense Ministry director-general, the military secretaries to the prime minister and defense minister, Israel's ambassador to Germany and Germany's ambassador to Israel.

Netanyahu added, "We changed Jewish history by pushing back those determined to destroy us. This truth will prevail. We still have work to do to explain that what we are doing is not only for our own defense, but also for the defense of Germany and the moderate Arab states."

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ministers and ambassadors in Jerusalem. Photo: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

Addressing calls for a Palestinian state, Netanyahu said, "There are disagreements on this. The purpose of establishing such a state would be to destroy the Jewish state. They had a state and used it to try to destroy Israel. There is a path to peace with Arab states and to establishing peace with Palestinian partners, but we cannot allow a state committed to our destruction to be at our doorstep. What we will always insist on is that security control from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea remain in Israel's hands."

Responding to a German reporter's question about annexation in the West Bank and Merz's desire to avoid steps that could escalate tensions in the region, Netanyahu said, "There is no change to the status quo. Israel maintains security control… this is unrelated to legal annexation."

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Netanyahu names Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman as next Mossad director

omrif — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:18:41 +0000

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has chosen his military secretary, Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, to serve as the next director of the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu interviewed several candidates before selecting Gofman for the position. "Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman is a highly accomplished officer," the statement said. His appointment as the prime minister's military secretary during what the government calls the Rebirth War demonstrated "exceptional professional capabilities," from his rapid entry into the job to his immediate and significant involvement across all seven fronts of the war.

Roman Gofman and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Maayan Toaf / GPO

The Prime Minister's Office added that Gofman maintained constant coordination with Israel's intelligence community, particularly the Mossad. It highlighted his "creativity, initiative, ingenuity, profound understanding of the enemy, complete discretion and absolute confidentiality." His leadership and courage were also emphasized, recalling that at the outbreak of the Rebirth War he "rushed from his home and fought Hamas terrorists in the Gaza border communities, where he was seriously wounded."

Gofman will replace current Mossad director David Barnea, whose five-year term ends in June 2026. Netanyahu's request to appoint Gofman is being submitted Thursday to the Advisory Committee for Senior Appointments.

Maj. Gen. Gofman has held a long list of operational and command positions in the IDF. He served as a combat soldier and commander in the Armored Corps, commanded Battalion 75 of the 7th Brigade, served as operations officer for the Gaash formation (Division 36), commanded the Etzion Brigade and later the 7th Brigade, led the Bashan Division (210), commanded the National Ground Training Center, served as Chief of Staff of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, and currently serves as the prime minister's military secretary.

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