Israel Active

Israel’s Smart Shooter (see previously) from Kibbutz Yagur has sold hundreds of its Smash AI smart fire control systems to the German army.

Israeli airline Arkia announced that it is extending its recently launched flights to New York through at least October due to high demand. Its three weekly flights have a set price of $1,200 round trip in economy.

Peregrine Ventures (see previously) which specializes in life-changing medical technology investments in Israel and around the world, is the most active investor in Israel in the health technology sector over the past year. It made 15 healthcare investments in 2024.

Bank Leumi’s 2024 profits rose 40% to NIS 9.8 billion. Bank Hapoalim’s +3.7% to NIS 7.6 billion. Bank Mizrahi Tefahot’s +11% to NIS 5.5 billion with a NIS 2.2 billion dividend. The Bank of Israel has told the banks to allocate NIS 3 billion to help retail customers cope during the war.

Israel's fiscal deficit has fallen sharply from 6.9% of GDP in the twelve months to the end of Dec 2024 to 5.8%, or NIS 115 billion, in the twelve months to the end of Jan 2025. It follows an all-time record high in state revenues of NIS 63.1 billion in Jan 2025, 30% more than the previous record in Jan 2022.

Israeli venture capital fund Firstime is launching a new non-bank credit operation for high-tech companies. Firstime Credit uses a project financing model more common in large infrastructure projects such as solar installations or power plants. It offers a funding alternative for startups.

Israel’s Carrar (see previously) won a $4.6M grant from the Israel Innovation Authority. Carrar is raising more funds and doubling its workforce to create its first plant near Sderot to produce EV battery packs.

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Israel’s Foretellix (see previously) has partnered US-based MathWorks to help Japan’s Mazda Car Corporation develop the next generation of its Autonomous Vehicles. Mazda uses the integrated solution to test & validate its autonomous systems in a virtual environment.

At the 2025 National Economics Conference in Eilat, PMO Director-General Yossi Sheli emphasized the importance of solving housing issues for foreign workers. He proposed an to establish a residential city near Modi'in that could accommodate approximately 30,000 workers.