Luke Tress

Luke Tress is an editor and a reporter in New York for The Times of Israel.

People shop at the Hadar Shopping mall in Jerusalem on December 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 23, 2022, 10:02 am

More Israelis satisfied with their economic situation than before pandemic — survey

Israel Democracy Institute study finds slight increase in public’s personal satisfaction under Bennett’s government; prime immediate concern is cost of living

By Luke Tress

UVeye technology being used to inspect a vehicle. (Courtesy/ UVeye PR)

June 22, 2022, 10:17 pm

General Motors invests in Israeli vehicle inspection startup UVeye

US automaker to explore using company’s artificial intelligence-powered, camera-based platform at its dealerships

By Luke Tress

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem, on April 11, 2022. (Flash90)

June 22, 2022, 9:40 pm

Bank of Israel predicts economy can keep expanding despite political upheaval

Amir Yaron, bank’s governor, says Israeli system has ‘an impressive ability to grow’ even amid uncertainty, vows to further rein in inflation

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, December 25, 2018. (Adam Shuldman/Flash90)

June 21, 2022, 10:56 pm

US-based Leonardo DRS acquires Israel’s RADA in major defense deal

Israeli radar-maker to become a subsidiary of Virginia-based defense contractor; cost of the deal estimated at $670 million

By Luke Tress

Jerusalem, August 4, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 21, 2022, 11:07 am

Socioeconomic mobility between generations is relatively low in Israel — study

Israel Democracy Institute research finds that only 14% of Israeli children in lowest income category climb to the top, with large differences between population groups

By Luke Tress

A soccer match between Wales and Belgium at the Cardiff City stadium in Cardiff, Wales, June 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

June 21, 2022, 10:27 am

Israeli shoe-tracking sports startup Playermaker raises $40 million

Company tracks athlete performance with a wearable sensor for soccer shoes, plans to use funding to expand to other sports, starting with basketball

By Luke Tress

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addresses the Knesset during a '40 signatures debate' in the plenum hall on June 13, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 16, 2022, 2:14 pm

Bennett reportedly weighs possible alternative government with Likud

Prime minister denies report he talked with adviser about cooperating with Netanyahu’s faction, as opposition steps up pressure on renegade Yamina MK Orbach

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: An aerial view of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and the surrounding area, April 20, 2022. (Matanya Tausig/Flash90)

June 16, 2022, 10:24 am

Fundraising fears overtake hiring as lead concern for Israeli startups, survey finds

Study by Startup Snapshot shows how tech firms are reacting to market conditions, as interest rates climb and market turmoil continues

By Luke Tress

A man shops for groceries at a Rami Levy supermarket in Jerusalem on February 3, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 15, 2022, 9:57 pm

Cost of consumer goods up 4.1% in past year, as housing prices keep climbing

Consumer Price Index shows a 0.6% increase last month, with the cost of fruit surging; home prices up 15.4% in 12 months

By Luke Tress

A single human immunodeficiency (HIV) virus buds from a human immune cell, which the virus had infected, and within which the HIV virus had been replicated. (NIAID via AP)

June 15, 2022, 5:35 pm

Israeli researchers develop gene-editing technology to fight HIV virus

Scientists from Tel Aviv University use CRISPR to modify body’s disease-fighting type B white blood cells, in what may become a treatment for the illness

By Luke Tress

Illustrative view of Tel Aviv at night, August 29, 2016. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

June 15, 2022, 10:33 am

Tel Aviv ranked 7th in annual list of best global tech ecosystems

Report from research firm Startup Genome says Israeli city’s startup scene worth $120 billion; AI, cybersecurity and big data the strongest sectors

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: A strawberry farm near the city of Netanya, on February 20, 2022. (Yossi Zeliger/Flash90)

June 14, 2022, 12:47 am

Jerusalem, Tel Aviv nab fourth place in list of best global agtech ecosystems

US research firm Startup Genome lists Israeli cities jointly as top location in the Middle East for food technology, trailing only Silicon Valley, New York and London

By Luke Tress

Illustrative. A mobile phone connected to a 5G network. (AndreyPopov; iStock by Getty Images)

June 13, 2022, 11:31 pm

US tech giant Qualcomm acquires Israel’s Cellwize for around $350 million

San Diego-based wireless corporation snaps up Israeli firm to boost deployment of 5G technology

By Luke Tress

Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman speaks during a Yisrael Beytenu faction meeting at the Knesset on June 6, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 13, 2022, 4:25 pm

Deficit drops to nearly zero for the first time in 14 years

Finance Ministry says deficit for the last 12 months is 0.4% due to increased revenue and reduced spending as pandemic recovery continues

By Luke Tress

Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar at a swearing in ceremony for newly appointed Supreme Court justices at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, on June 9, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 9, 2022, 5:59 pm

Sa’ar says government has failed, hints at need for stability during transition

Justice minister quotes Abraham Lincoln on governing despite being a lame duck, says vote losses will have ‘severe consequences’; Shaked said to press Orbach to remain in Yamina

By Luke Tress