Israeli economy

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, June 12, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2019, 6:40 pm

Finance Ministry proposes budget cuts to counter burgeoning deficit

Finance minister to also raise some taxes, despite looming national elections; cuts come on top of billion shekel reduction to defense, education budgets

By TOI staff

Children watch as an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prepares to cast his vote during Israel's parliamentary elections on April 9, 2019 in Jerusalem. (Menahem Kahana/AFP)

April 11, 2019, 5:29 am

Here are the issues Israelis had in mind when voting

Study shows top 3 considerations were choice between Netanyahu and Gantz, socio-economic issues, and security situation. Voters were also often swayed by how religious they are

By Josefin Dolsten

Illustrative. Clouds on the horizon. (SARINYAPINNGAM; IStock by Getty Images)

March 14, 2019, 11:31 am

Clouds gather as Israel emerges from economic ‘golden decade’

After April elections, the new government must set out long-term policies to curb the shekel’s rise, boost education and infrastructure, and trim bureaucracy, economists say

By Shoshanna Solomon

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as they prepare to deliver joint statements, after a meeting and a lunch in the Israeli leader's Jerusalem residence, June 25, 2012. (AP/Jim Hollander, Pool/File)

February 12, 2019, 9:44 am

Israel and Iran both set to join Russia-led free trade zone

After two rounds of negotiations, Jerusalem close to agreement with Eurasian Economic Union; separately, Tehran also set to sign deal ‘in the near future’

By Raphael Ahren

Budget director Shaul Meridor attends a press conference at the Ministry of Finance in Jerusalem on December 11, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 31, 2018, 4:03 pm

To rein in deficit, taxes may need to rise, spending to drop – budget chief

Central Bureau of Statistics releases preliminary estimates for GDP growth of 3.2% in 2018, lower than expected; 2017 saw a growth of 3.5%

By Shoshanna Solomon

View of Jerusalem showing the Old City in the foreground against new parts of the city in the background, January 9, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

December 1, 2018, 12:10 pm

Jerusalem nears bottom of Israel’s socioeconomic index

New report by Central Bureau of Statistics shows capital’s ranking has continued to deteriorate in recent years

By TOI staff

Illustrative: A board showing stock fluctuations at the Tel Aviv stock exchange (Moshe Shai/FLASH90)

August 4, 2018, 6:14 am

Credit scoring agency gives Israel its highest-ever rating

Standard & Poor’s cites steady growth, improved fiscal outlook in decision to upgrade Jewish state’s credit score to AA-

By TOI staff

Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug at a press conference in Jerusalem on March 28, 2018. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

July 6, 2018, 4:57 pm

Bank of Israel head to step down after first term

Karnit Flug informs Netanyahu she won’t seek a second term, hails bank’s contribution to the ‘prosperity of Israel’ and its citizens

By TOI staff

Bank of Israel Governor Karnit Flug speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on March 31, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 14, 2018, 4:18 pm

Government’s short-term focus is pricey in the long run — central bank governor

Why wait for a crisis to invest in needed reforms and address fundamental weaknesses in the economy, asks Karnit Flug

By Shoshanna Solomon

View of the Tel Aviv skyline in a dense sandstorm, September 08, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 1, 2018, 8:23 pm

IMF says Israeli economy robust but social gaps threaten long-term stability

International body says Israel saw strong growth and low unemployment in 2017 but measures must be taken to increase productivity, improve infrastructure, and cut poverty

By Sue Surkes

Production line workers at a factory in Rehovot, central Israel, on October 27, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

March 18, 2018, 3:01 pm

Israeli workers to get one hour off a week from April

Union deal signed last year that cut workweek from 43 hours to 42 now applies to all employees, but Israel still lags behind many industrialized countries

By Sue Surkes

January 7, 2018, 3:42 pm

Lee Cahaner

Haredi women lead change

Ultra-Orthodox women marry young, have many children, run their homes, and pursue higher ed like never before

January 4, 2018, 11:17 am

Malynnda Littky

Arab nurses doesn’t mean equal opportunity

If you don’t hire Arabs because they ‘take Jewish jobs’ or might one day turn terrorist, that’s racism

In this photo from July 25, 2017, then White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci speaks to members of the media at the White House. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

November 7, 2017, 8:24 pm

Anthony Scaramucci to join Jewish group’s investment trip to Israel

Controversial ex-Trump aide says Jewish state ‘one of the most compelling markets in the world,’ praises the ‘miracle in the desert’

By JTA

Close-up of Israeli currency, Jerusalem. (Orel Cohen/Flash90)

October 30, 2017, 11:03 pm

Minimum wage rising to NIS 5,300 on December 1

With lowest hourly rate going up to NIS 28.50 and daily minimum to NIS 245, Israel enters final stage of increases that began in 2015

By TOI staff