The Israeli currency is moving towards a level not seen since the 1990s and the shekel continues to strengthen against the US dollar. Expectations of an improvement in the geopolitical situation, along with the weakness of the dollar on world markets are the two main trends supporting the Israeli currency’s appreciation. The Bank of Israel set the shekel-dollar exchange rate at NIS 3.1 per dollar, which is an appreciation of about 2 percent against the dollar since the start of 2026. The shekel has strengthened by about 23 percent against the US dollar since it traded at NIS 4.05 shekels to the dollar following the outbreak of the war in October 2023. David Rosenberg, economic columnist for Ha’aretz, explained the situation as well as the dark side of the strengthening shekel. (photo: Nati Shohat/flash90)

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Trump envoy Witkoff arrives in Israel for talks ahead of US-Iran meeting. IDF forces in Gaza discover mortars, weapons in UNRWA bags. Dairy farmers halt milk supply to protest finance minister's dairy sector reform plan

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This year’s Tu B’Shvat is turning out to be one of the busiest in the past ten years. Thousands of people took part in tree-planting activities over the weekend and today to mark Tu B’Shvat and Keren Kayemet L’israel, the KKL or JNF, has provided hundreds of thousands of seedlings to the public to plant. Noa Tal, head of the planning division at KKL, told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that there was an outpouring of participation to plant trees and reconnect with the land, especially after two years of war.(photo: George Nubiminski/KKL)

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A coalition of some 30 organizations has come together with the aim of strengthening public service in Israel and rebuilding public trust in the sector. KAN's Naomi Segal heard more from Adv. Rita Golstein-Galperin, Head of the Civil Service Reform Program at the Israel Democracy Institute, one of the founding organizations of the coalition

(Photo: Gal Cohen/Roi Tohar)

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US President Donald Trump says Iran is talking "seriously" with Washington and expressed hope a satisfactory deal could be reached on Tehran's nuclear program. This as the US continues to deploy military assets in the region as Trump weighs options of a strike on Iran following the regime crackdown on protests there. US expert Prof. Eytan Gilboa of Bar-Ilan and Reichman universities spoke to KAN's Naomi Segal about the cross pressures informing Trump's calculations

(Photo: Associated Press) 

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The government has approved plan allocating funds for the rehabilitation and development of Kiryat Shmona, Metula and Shlomi in northern Israel.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting held in Kiryat Shmona, following protests of residents over delays in the city's rehabilitation after the war with Hezbollah that broke out in 2023, until the cease-fire reached in 2024.

Among the measures approved: assistance grants to local businesses and residents, the establishment of an emergency medical center and a specialist clinic in Kiryat Shmona, the revival of flights between the city and central Israel, and the creation of Kiryat Shmona University, which will incorporate the existing Tel Hai college.

KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Kiryat Shmona spokesperson Ariel Frish.

(Photo: GPO)

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Roughly two million people, including 880,000 children and 150,000 elderly citizens, were living below the poverty line in Israel in 2024, according to the annual National Insurance report published on Friday.

Making up 21 percent of the population, the figure marks an increase of 0.3% from 2023. The rate of children living in poverty stands  at 28%, slightly worse than the 27.9% recorded a year earlier.

KAN's Mark Weiss  spoke with Becky Cohen-Keshet from the Forum for Fighting Poverty.

(Photo:Flash90)

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Rafah crossing opens for pilot tests, pedestrian traffic to, from Gaza expected to begin on Monday. Iran's Khamenei warns of regional war if US attacks Tehran. Amid US-Iran tensions, IDF chief of staff holds talks with American officials

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