Gold is traditionally considered a "safe haven" for investors worldwide, and some view it as a hedge against inflation. Demand for gold remains relatively stable, and here we're talking about the real economy - Main Street. Gold is the most efficient natural conductor of electricity, which means it's found in every smartphone and nearly every electronic device.

Why is it considered a safe haven? Essentially, as long as the world operates within familiar terms - demand for electronics, chips, computers, and the like - there will be a consistent need for gold. Why a hedge against inflation? Because as demand for electronics and electrical conductors grows, gold prices tend to rise accordingly. At least theoretically, the price of gold should rise in tandem, or at the very least keep pace.

To get a sense of gold's role in the tech world, one need only look at Apple's ESG reports. The company details its gold recycling efforts - your trade-in device gets dismantled, and the materials, including gold, are reused. This process saves Apple tens of millions of dollars each year, around $50 million annually.

Now add to that the rest of the phone manufacturers, computer makers, and semiconductor producers, and you get an ever-growing demand for gold as a conductor. And this is without considering gold's role as a "tradable currency" in large parts of the world - India, China, and Africa, for instance. What emerges is an asset tied to growth, inflation, or any factor that reflects the pace of the real economy.

In any case, when financial markets become volatile and investment decisions harder to make, one of the more reasonable strategies is to turn to commodities - and here, gold takes the spotlight. At least in theory.

If we examine who's investing in gold, it's unlikely we'll find major institutional players like pension funds. Who will we find? Hedge funds and speculators. When we talk about gold, we're talking about the world's biggest speculators, and that means a lot of money is in play.

Analysts covering the commodities market have told international financial outlets that the gold rally since the start of the year is seen as an alternative to exposure in stocks or traditional bonds. In recent days, those looking to take a "time-out" from market volatility have turned to gold. But again, this is just the economic theory explaining the sharp rise in gold prices this year.

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The first approach involves purchasing physical gold in the form of coins and bars. This includes options like the "American Eagle" gold coins or gold bars available in various weights. While gold jewelry represents another physical option with aesthetic appeal, buyers should be aware it typically carries a premium above the price of pure gold.

Gold, along with other precious metals, trades in the relatively ancient weight measurement known as ounces. This weight unit effectively defines the global physical gold price benchmark. Investors should note that physical gold purchases involve additional considerations including storage costs and insurance requirements. Within Israel, physical gold purchases incur VAT. These transactions can be conducted through authorized gold dealers, though potential buyers should verify their chosen dealer adheres to international standards.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) represent a second, more operationally streamlined investment avenue. The buying and selling process mirrors that of any other security through securities accounts maintained at banks or investment houses. Investors can choose between foreign or Israeli-based ETFs. This approach eliminates physical storage concerns while offering enhanced liquidity and investment flexibility.

A third investment strategy involves purchasing shares in companies engaged in gold mining and trading operations, primarily listed on exchanges outside Israel. This approach offers positive potential during periods when gold prices rise and company performance remains strong. However, investors should recognize that performance depends on company operations and not exclusively on gold price movements. As with ETF investments, these transactions can be executed through standard securities accounts.

Readers should note that the information provided above does not substitute for personalized investment advice tailored to individual client circumstances.

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One of the Gulf region's most prestigious diamond and jewelry shows, Jewellery Arabia, is being held this year from Nov. 16-20 in Bahrain, and for the first time, Israel's diamond industry will be represented.

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Israel Diamond Center (IDC) founder Avi Tavisal, who is also a founder of the Israel Diamond Exchange, designed and created the AlSakhra Collection, inspired by the Rock of Ascension and the spirit of the Abraham Accords.

AlSakhra was created in the spirit of Islamic faith and culture. The choice of the name is to Sakharat Al-Maraj, "the Rock of Ascension," from which Muhammad ascended to the heavens for his Night Journey, and the beautiful gilded Dome of the Rock above it.

Featuring Jerusalem stone, gold, and diamonds, the pieces in the collection will be unveiled at the expo and for sale at the company's booth.

When invited by the Israel Diamond Exchange to be one of the first diamond and fine jewelry dealers to represent Israel at the Jewellery Arabia exhibition, Tavisal – a seventh-generation Jerusalemite and second-generation jeweler – agreed immediately and began working with a team of craftsmen and advisors to produce the AlSakhra line.

"We are making history. This is a very exciting and important development. Dealing with diamonds connects me to a very special place – diamonds saved my father's life during World War II and gave me a rare opportunity to become one of the founders of the Israeli Diamond Exchange and industry. It is a privilege to use my skills, creativity and faith to honor Islam and our partners in the historic Abraham Accords," Tavisal said.

IDC VP of Business Development Shady Kheir explained that "The Abraham Accords motivated us to combine our vast experience in the diamond industry, artistic vision and great appreciation to the leaders who realized the historic peaceful relations in the region into this unique brand which has already stirred curiosity in the Gulf region.

"Israel is well known as the 'Start-up Nation' and as the No. 1 diamond exporter in the world. We are extremely delighted and honored to take part in this important event," said Kheir.

Jewellery Arabia is regularly attended by senior officials and dignitaries from the United Arab Emirates and all over the world. The Bahraini royal family plays an active role in hosting the event and will be present throughout the exhibition.

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Israel's Yonatan Kapitolnik, 18, on Saturday won the gold medal in the high-jump event at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships.

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This year's competition is being held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kapitolnik jumped to a height of 2.19 meters (7.185 feet) in his first attempt, an impressive result that remained unequaled.

This is the second-ever time that an Israeli has won a medal at the World Championships in the Under-20 category. In 2006, high jumper Nicki Palli took home silver from Bejing.

This achievement for Israeli athletics comes on the heels of a strong performance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo that included two gold medals.

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The Israeli national jiu-jitsu team won a whopping 11 medals at the European Championship in Germany this week.

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On the first day of the competition, two athletes won golds − Vicky Dabush, who defeated her French opponent, and Meshi Rosenfeld, who beat her opponent from the Russian team. On the same day, two other fighters – Nimrod Ryder and Alon Jan – each pocketed a bronze medal.

On the second day of the competition, Roni Nissimian won a gold medal, and athletes Saar Shemesh and Shaked Nissimian pocketed silvers. Three fighters – Roy Dagan, Avi Ibragimov, and Noa Lifshitz – went home with bronze medals. Nadav Bar-Gil also won a bronze medal.

The Israeli athletes now have their eyes set on the World Championships, slated to be held in November in Abu Dhabi, where they will hopefully qualify for the World Games scheduled to take place in July 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Altogether the Israeli team won three gold, two silver and six bronze medals.

Arik Kaplan, president of AYELET (the Federation Of Non-Olympic Sport In Israel) congratulated the athletes on their achievements.

"These are outstanding accomplishments, especially considering how challenging the past year was for all of us. I wish the athletes success at the upcoming World Games," he said.

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Archaeologists excavating an ancient manufacturing area that was active for hundreds of years were surprised to find a small clay vessel containing gold coins from the 9^th century CE. Researchers currently think that the treasure might have belonged to a potter.

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"All of I sudden I heard shouting," says Liat Nadav-Ziv, who is directing the dig with Dr. Eli Haddad of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

"I went out and saw Mark Mullokandov, a veteran IAA archaeologist, running toward the camp, all excited. We followed him and were surprised to see the treasure," she said.

Dr. Robert Cole, an IAA numismatics expert, gave the coins the once-over and the initial inspection indicates that they date to the beginning of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 9^th century. The coins include one gold dinar of the Caliph Harun a-Rashid.

Video: Galit Tal / IAA

"The trove contains coins that we rarely see here in Israel. They are gold dinars from the Aghlabid dynasty – who ruled North Africa on behalf of the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad. This is undoubtedly a Hanukkah present for us," Cole said.

Other discoveries at the dig, which is located southeast of Tel Yavne, include a "field of furnaces" that operated around the end of the Byzantine and early Islamic era, from the 7^th century CE to the 9^th century CE. These furnaces were used to make jugs, cooking pots, and bowls, all to be sold commercially. The gold coins were discovered inside a tiny jug that rested at the mouth of one of the furnaces. Archaeologists think they might have been payment for one of the potters, who used the jug as his personal cash register.

On the other side of the Tel Yavne site, the dig has uncovered the remnants of a large industrial facility dating back to the Persian Era (5^th-4^th centuries BCE) that was apparently used to make wine.

Haddad explained that an initial examination of the findings had revealed traces of grape seeds.

"The size of the compartments and the number of them indicate that wine was manufactured in commercial quantities, much more than would be needed to meet local demand of the residents of ancient Yavne," he observed.

The Israel Antiquities Authority is carrying out the Yavne dig as part of preparations to lay the groundwork for a new residential neighborhood.

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Should the company discover gold deposits in Eilat and the Roded River, the company mining for the gold, in accordance with the approval of the local planning authorities will have ownership over the gold, while 5% of its total value will be allocated to the state in the form of royalties.

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This is not the first time a license to search for gold in Eilat and the Arava region has been approved. A decade ago, two companies applied for a tender to search for gold there after the Israel Geological Survey published findings indicating there was likely a low concentration of gold in the ridges and boulders of the Arava, which are known to often contain a number of metals, including gold.

Gulliver Energy Ltd, headed by the late Mossad chief Meir Dagan, received a permit to search for hold in the Roded River a few years ago. But work at the site was eventually halted.

Gold Deposits received a three-year permit to mine for gold across an area spanning some 4,900 acres and under the jurisdiction of Eilat and the Arava. The search will require the company to coordinate with the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and local authorities.

According to Hanan Ginat, who heads the Hevel Eilot Regional Council where gold but also copper deposits have been found, "One must remember that the price of gold dictates whether it does or doesn't pay to produce gold. There is gold in the Roded River if we rely on the Geological Survey, and there are rocks that could contain gold and microorganisms, but it's all a matter of economic feasibility."

According to the Energy Ministry, assuming enough gold is discovered in the Arava region to make it worth mining, the mining company will receive a discovery certificate allowing it to mine the gold it discovers in accordance with the planning and construction committees in Israel's south.

The Arava's Timna Valley area is the site of the world's first copper mine, which dates back to ancient imperial Egypt.

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