Calcalist

Originally in Hebrew · 40 stories

Against Waiting for the Messiah, and for Doing the Work

A Hebrew opinion column argues that Israeli messianic thinking, from the army to national politics, encourages passivity and excuses failures. It says Israel should replace expectations of a savior with practical action, stronger local governance and more public participation.

Economy6m ago

CyberArk Founder Says Sale to Palo Alto Was Right, If Painful

CyberArk founder Udi Mokady says the company’s $25 billion sale to Palo Alto Networks was painful but necessary. He described the AI-driven rationale for the deal, the February 2026 layoffs that followed, and his new life after leaving the company.

Politics6m ago

How AI Could Shape and Distort Israel’s Next Election

The article warns that Israel’s next election could be flooded by AI-driven disinformation and personalized persuasion. It cites Slovakia’s 2023 election as an early example and says AI will make both fake evidence and tailored political messaging cheaper and harder to stop. In Israel’s exhausted postwar climate, the main defense is learning to recognize these influence campaigns.

Culture6m ago

Spielberg Uses Aliens to Expose America’s Fear, Deception and Need for Empathy

Steven Spielberg’s new film “Disclosure Day” uses a hidden alien conspiracy to criticize secrecy, cruelty and abuses of power. The article argues that its message, empathy over fear, fits a U.S. moment marked by alien talk and hostility toward outsiders.

Tech18m ago

Noam Shazeer Leaves Google Again for OpenAI

Noam Shazeer is leaving Google for OpenAI, ending a brief return after his 2024 comeback. He was a top Gemini leader and a key Google AI figure, and his move underscores the intense fight for AI talent.

Economy19m ago

Third Ear Leaving King George After 21 Years for Tel Aviv's Street Center

The Third Ear has signed a 10-year lease to move from King George Street to Tel Aviv's Street Center on Ben Zion Boulevard. The new branch, about 300 square meters, is expected to open during Hanukkah at the end of the year.

Economy59m ago

Tim Cook Signals Apple Price Hikes as Memory Chip Costs Surge

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company will raise prices because memory and storage chip costs have surged, driven by AI demand. Analysts expect higher prices first on Macs and iPads, while a new iPhone 18 lineup may arrive in September. Cook will step down as CEO in September and be replaced by John Ternus.

Economy1h ago

Tel Aviv Market Braces for Another Weak Session as Nex Vision, Cal and Av-Gad Make Headlines

Tel Aviv is headed for another cautious session after three red days and a weak Wall Street close. Local markets are also watching major corporate news involving Next Vision, Cal, and Av-Gad.

Security1h ago

Reserve soldier killed in southern Lebanon blast as fighting and air defenses continue

The IDF said reserve Staff Sgt. Maj. Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, was killed by an explosive device in southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Several other soldiers were wounded in the same incident, while separate Hezbollah drone and rocket attacks also injured more troops in southern Lebanon.

Economy2h ago

Dollar Pulls Back After Fed-Driven Rally, Still Above 2.93 Shekels

The dollar retreated after Wednesday’s Fed-fueled jump, trading above 2.93 shekels while the euro also weakened in Israel. Markets remain focused on a hawkish Fed outlook, with U.S. bond yields and the dollar index rising on expectations of possible rate hikes.

Culture2h ago

Weekend Picks: Manchester Drama, North Country Wine Fair, Jerusalem Music Festival and More

The article rounds up weekend cultural picks, including a new Manchester-set series, a wine fair in Rosh Pina, and the Jerusalem East and West Festival. It also highlights a Tel Aviv design exhibition, a new film on HBO Max, and a travel book about Everrett Ruess.

Politics2h ago

Likud Control at KKL Drives 30% Workforce Surge in Five Years

KKL’s staff and fixed costs surged under Likud-linked control even as its land-sale income fell sharply. The new chairman says he is trying to halt the growth, and a new CEO has now been chosen.

Economy2h ago

Noga Chair Says Israel Will Raise Up to NIS 2 Billion to Fund Emergency Fuel Reserves

Noga chairman Tal Baxes said Israel’s electricity grid held up through the war with Iran, even after gas platforms and energy sites were shut or targeted. He said Noga will raise NIS 1.5 billion to NIS 2 billion for emergency fuel reserves, while also preparing for soaring demand and a permanent CEO appointment.

Economy2h ago

Japanese Banks Rise as Chinese Financial Shares Fall in Mixed Asian Trading

Asian stock markets were mixed after Wall Street fell and U.S. bond yields jumped following the Fed's rate decision and Kevin Warsh's first press conference. Japanese banks and chipmakers rose, while Chinese financial and property shares fell in Hong Kong. SK Hynix climbed to a record after starting deliveries of HBM4E samples.

Economy3h ago

Shimon Gershon launches digital rental guarantee platform for tenants

Shimon Gershon has launched Direct Guarantees, a digital service that helps tenants secure rental guarantees without cash deposits. The company says it has NIS 12 million in backing, partnerships with several real-estate firms, and approval to report credit data in Israel. Gershon aims to scale the platform to 90,000 active guarantees within five years.

Economy3h ago

Israeli Regulator Blocks Real Estate Valuation for Abu-Gad Subsidiary

Israel’s Securities Authority rejected a valuation that would have placed Abu-Gad Kinneret at over 200 million shekels. The company later dropped the valuation from its prospectus, then shelved the Tiberias-area project amid a dispute with landowners and a 20.5 million-shekel lawsuit.

Economy3h ago

Shimon Gershon Launches Digital Rent Guarantee Platform for Tenants

Shimon Gershon has launched Direct Guarantees, a digital rental-guarantee platform for tenants, backed by about 12 million shekels and already advertised on TV. The company says it has partnerships with several real estate firms, more than 500 apartments on the platform, and plans to expand toward profitability and a 10% share of Israel’s rental market.

Economy3h ago

Competition Authority Presses Censure of Shufersal Tie-Up in Cal Sale

Israel’s Competition Authority is close to deciding on the 3.9 billion shekel sale of Cal to George Horesh’s Union and Harel Insurance. The key issue is whether Cal must drop its Shufersal customer club, a move the buyers oppose and may challenge in court. The decision is expected within two weeks.

Economy3h ago

Israeli Food Companies Quietly Profit From Sales Into Gaza

Israeli food companies are making large sales into Gaza after the ceasefire opened the way for hundreds of truckloads a day. Victory disclosed about 100 million shekels in one month, Mehadrin reported about 60 million shekels in first-quarter Gaza sales, and authorities are tightening controls amid smuggling attempts and Hamas concerns.

Economy3h ago

Fast Lanes on Route 20 and the Coastal Highway Struggle to Gain Traction

Fast lanes on Route 20 and the Coastal Highway opened two months ago but are carrying only 6,500 shuttle passengers a day, far below their potential. A transport expert says tolling is needed to manage congestion, while Ayalon Highways says the project is already changing travel habits and will expand in stages toward 2027.

Economy3h ago

Israel’s Tech Job Market Rebounds in 2025, but Software Developers Lag

Israel’s high-tech sector added 9,000 workers in 2025, but software developers continued to struggle. The Labor Ministry says demand is shifting toward AI, data and hardware roles while software jobs stagnate.

Politics9h ago

Beyond Frozen Funds: The Real Economic Prize for Iran in a U.S. Deal

A Reuters-reported draft U.S.-Iran understanding could unlock frozen Iranian assets, oil-export waivers and even a future reconstruction plan. The article says the real prize for Tehran is not one cash payment, but broader access to funds, trade and sanctions relief.

Politics11h ago

U.S.-Iran draft memorandum calls for sanctions relief and a $300 billion reconstruction plan

A U.S. official released a draft U.S.-Iran memorandum that would end military operations, lift sanctions, and set a final deal within 60 days. The text also calls for a $300 billion reconstruction plan, limits on Iran’s nuclear program, and a binding U.N. Security Council resolution to approve the final accord.

Economy11h ago

Israeli Finance Leaders Debate Market Outlook Amid War and New Listings

Dozens of senior Israeli market figures met at a Calcalist and Migdal conference to discuss the future of the local economy and stock market. They debated whether recent declines will continue and what the SpaceX IPO could mean for Israeli investors.

Economy12h ago

Fed Holds Rates at 3.75% in Kevin Warsh’s First Meeting as Chair

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate at 3.75% in Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as chair. Warsh, replacing Jerome Powell, now faces pressure from Donald Trump and inflation running at 4.2% in May.

Economy12h ago

Next Vision executives to sell $200 million in shares as drone market surges

Next Vision executives are selling about $200 million in shares in an overnight secondary offering led by Jefferies. The company, which makes stabilized cameras for drones and other aerial and ground systems, has seen its valuation and revenue soar since its 2021 IPO.

Economy13h ago

FTX's Lost Stakes in Cursor and Anthropic Could Have Been Worth Tens of Billions

SpaceX's $60 billion purchase of Cursor revived attention on two FTX investments that were later sold for far less than their eventual value. One missed stake could have been worth about $3 billion, while another in Anthropic would now be worth more than $70 billion.

World13h ago

Trump in France: Iran deal could be signed in a day or two

At the G7 summit in Évian, Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be signed within one or two days. He warned that if Iran violates it, the U.S. will quickly resume bombing, and said the draft has already been sent to Israel.

Economy14h ago

Finance Ministry Budget Chief Picks Internal Deputy, Easing Fears of Outside Appointment

Rotem Bramli has been named acting deputy head of Israel’s Budget Division, replacing Kfir Batta and averting fears of an outside appointment. The move follows tensions inside the Finance Ministry over Meirav Praznsfer’s management style and planned restructuring, while three other deputy posts remain unfilled.

Economy16h ago

Israel Electricity Regulator Proposes New Fees and Limits for Data Center Grid Access

Israel’s Electricity Authority has proposed charging data center developers annual fees to hold their place in the grid connection queue. The plan also tightens eligibility, prioritizes projects outside central Israel, and could allow power cuts to connected facilities under certain conditions.

Politics16h ago

Knesset grants Gotliv immunity despite warnings over exposing Shin Bet operative

The Knesset granted Tali Gotliv immunity from indictment over exposing the name of a Shin Bet operative. The article says the move reflected coalition support and an assault on the attorney general and other state institutions. It ties the case to wider security and governance scandals under the current government.

Economy17h ago

Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport to Reopen After Four-Month Closure

Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport will reopen on June 28 for domestic flights and on July 1 for international flights after being closed for four months. The Israel Airports Authority says the move is part of preparations for the summer travel peak and could help low-cost airlines, though it still faces staffing and congestion concerns.

Politics17h ago

Knesset Grants Immunity to Likud MK Tally Gotliv Amid Outcry

The Knesset voted 61 to 48 to grant Likud MK Tally Gotliv immunity from a criminal indictment over exposing a Shin Bet officer's name. The immunity applies only for the current Knesset, while a separate defamation case from Shikma Bressler continues in court.

Politics17h ago

High Court Orders State to Justify RMI Chief Appointment

Israel’s High Court issued an order nisi over Yehuda Eliyahu’s appointment as Israel Land Authority director general and asked the state to justify it by July 1. The justices said the close ties between Eliyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, plus the record on the committee score sheets, raise serious doubts about the appointment.

Politics17h ago

Haredi boycott forces coalition to pull bills from Knesset agenda

A Haredi voting boycott has disrupted Knesset committees and forced the coalition to pull bills, including funding for Sdot Negev and a terrorism-incitement bill. The standoff is also delaying Knesset dissolution and early election plans, while coalition talks continue over religious legislation.

Politics17h ago

Attorney General Excused from Supreme Court Petitions Over State Comptroller Vote

The High Court exempted Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara from responding to petitions against Michael Ravillo’s election as state comptroller. The state’s position in Thursday’s hearing will be presented only by Knesset legal adviser Shagit Afik, after seven petitions challenged the June 3 vote in the Knesset.

Economy18h ago

Israel’s Watermelon Crop Hit by Virus and Cold Spring Weather

An unusual virus and cold, cloudy weather have damaged about 20% of Israel’s watermelon fields. KANAT says more than 1,000 dunams have been approved for destruction, and growers fear further losses as summer harvests begin.

Health18h ago

Jerusalem grocery branches ordered shut after sedatives found in baby fruit puree

Israel’s Health Ministry closed two Jerusalem Zol U’B’Gadol branches after sedatives were found in Prino baby fruit puree sold there. Four children were hospitalized, later released, and officials are warning parents to avoid the affected products and watch for symptoms.

Sports18h ago

FIFA strips stadium branding to protect World Cup sponsors

FIFA is aggressively removing non-sponsor branding from World Cup stadiums, renaming venues and covering logos on seats, products and equipment. The policy has been enforced across the tournament, with only limited exceptions where removal would be impractical or damaging.

Politics18h ago

Ehud Barak Says Iran Deal Left Israel Weaker and Strategically Empty-Handed

Ehud Barak said the U.S.-Iran agreement left Israel worse off because none of its strategic aims were met. He argued Netanyahu has no realistic war strategy, criticized plans for open-ended security zones, and warned that massive defense spending would damage the economy.