Israel Update
U.S. Taps Israeli Startup for Attack Drones
Israeli startup XTEND has secured a major U.S. Department of War contract to supply artificial itntelligence-enabled, one-way attack drones.
The deal marks a major step in America’s shift toward low-cost, autonomous systems designed for swarm warfare.
XTEND’s modular VTOL drones can carry reconnaissance tools, training payloads, or lethal munitions, and are built so a single operator can command multiple drones at once.
The company will handle training and production from its U.S. hub in Tampa, Florida.
City of David Dig Proves Biblical History Is ‘Fact,’ Not Just Faith
In the ancient City of David in Jerusalem, new archaeological discoveries continue to bring biblical history to life.
Ze’ev Orenstein of the City of David Foundation told Newsmax Israel correspondent Jodie Cohen that visitors can literally stand where King David ruled, walk the steps of the Pool of Siloam, and follow the Pilgrimage Road that Jews — including Jesus — used 2,000 years ago.
"Every single day here in the city of David, we are unearthing antiquities that show that the Jewish and Christian heritage, going back thousands of years, is not simply a matter of faith, but a matter of fact," he said.
Israeli Seeds Offer New Defense Against Tomato Virus
Israeli genomics firm NRGene has begun commercial sales of tomato seeds resistant to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV), a fast-spreading plant disease that has devastated greenhouse tomato crops worldwide.
After successful field results in Switzerland and Canada, farmers are now adopting the new high resistance varieties, which have shown strong protection against the virus, along with high yields and premium fruit quality.
Seed partners say the innovation is restoring grower confidence against one of the industry’s most destructive threats.
Cow-Free Dairy Set to Hit Israeli Shelves
An Israeli food-tech breakthrough is heading to supermarket shelves: cow-free, lab-grown milk created by Remilk in partnership with Gad Dairies.
Using microbial fermentation to recreate real milk proteins, the company says its product isn’t a substitute but true dairy — only lactose free, cholesterol free, and cruelty free.
The milk reportedly foams, tastes, and cooks just like the traditional version, offering a new option for consumers without changing their habits.
The new milk is expected to hit stores within weeks, with U.S. sales talks already underway.
American Company Buys Israeli Startup in $625 Million Mega Deal
U.S. public safety giant Axon is buying Israeli emergency-response startup Carbyne for $625 million, a major bet on artificial intelligence tools that feed real-time video, location data, and mapping directly to 911 dispatchers and police.
The acquisition positions Carbyne’s Israel-built platform to scale globally as agencies push for faster, more accurate emergency response.
Axon says the deal will help close critical information gaps that slow emergency teams at the moment people need help most.
Carbyne’s platform already is deployed at nearly 300 sites worldwide, serving more than 250 million people across the US, Mexico, and Israel.
Emotional Homecoming: Former Hostage Returns to Jewish Prayer
In Ra’anana, a powerful moment of resilience unfolded as former hostage Barr Cooperstein put on tefillin for the first time since returning home.
Tefillin are the small black boxes containing verses of Torah that are strapped to one's arm and head during weekday prayer
Rabbi Eitan Bendavid told Newsmax that Cooperstein survived captivity by dreaming of the day he could once again pray freely as a Jew.
In front of a thousand people, he finally did: sparking singing, dancing, and what the rabbi called a celebration of “Jewish pride, resilience, [and] hope in the face of evil.”
Holy Grapes! Israel Dig Reveals Early Wine Press, Ritual Cache
Archaeologists near Tel Megiddo have uncovered a 5,000-year-old rock-cut wine press, one of the oldest ever found in Israel.
They also discovered a cache of Canaanite ritual artifacts, including a miniature temple and a ram-shaped ceremonial vessel, offering a rare glimpse into early winemaking and folk religious life in the region.
The finds suggest Megiddo’s ancient settlement stretched far beyond the city’s immediate surroundings.
Researchers say the artifacts may reveal how ordinary Canaanites worshipped outside the main temple.
Pilgrims Flock to Simon the Tanner’s House in Ancient Jaffa
In the Old City of Jaffa, visitors are flocking to the home traditionally believed to be that of Simon the Tanner.
It’s where the apostle Peter is said to have stayed, performed miracles, and received the vision that helped shape early Christianity.
Newsmax Israel correspondent Jodie Cohen spoke with tourists at the site, including one man who said, “It’s really amazing to see that this is a piece of the history.”
A woman said that walking the ancient stones made her feel “like I’m walking through the history."
Chip Champ: Israeli Firm Doubles Value to $10 Billion
Israeli chipmaker Tower Semiconductor isn’t looking back.
Two years after its $5 billion sale to Intel collapsed, the company has surged to a valuation of $10 billion, delivering blowout earnings and announcing a $300 million global expansion to meet soaring AI-driven demand.
The company is extending production of its next-generation analog chips — key components that help power artificial intelligence systems — across three additional factories worldwide.
Tower is also projecting record fourth-quarter revenue, capping a remarkable rebound fueled by booming chip sales.
Israel Unveils Zero Percent Tax Plan to Encourage Immigration
Israel is rolling out a bold new incentive to boost immigration: a zero percent income tax rate for newcomers in 2026 and 2027.
It's part of a sweeping plan aimed at drawing skilled workers, investors, and families to the country.
The proposal phases taxes back in gradually through 2030 and includes a 10-year exemption on foreign income, making it one of the most aggressive aliya incentives in decades.
DIY Pregnancy Ultrasound Gets FDA Green Light
Israel has scored another medical breakthrough with a new at-home pregnancy ultrasound device from Haifa-based Pulsenmore that just won the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval.
The system lets expectant mothers scan their babies from home with a mobile app and real-time guidance from physicians.
It's backed by major U.S. studies and hailed by experts as a “game changer” in prenatal care.
Doctors say it could dramatically expand access for women in rural “medical deserts” and reduce the need for costly, time-consuming clinic visits.
Hummus Heaven: Jaffa Joint Called Israel's Best
Abu Hassan in Jaffa is legendary.
Locals insist it’s the best hummus in all of Israel, and Newsmax Israel correspondent Jodie Cohen went to see why.
The owner says the secret is “simplicity … you have to make it from your heart,” using only a handful of top-quality ingredients like chickpeas, tahini, salt, and mineral water.
He says people come “from all over the world,” and that everyone sits together: “Americans, Arab, Jewish, Christian."
One customer told Cohen the hummus “was delicious … warm, salty… the combination was great.”
Upgraded Israeli F-35s Can Hit Targets 1,300 Miles Away
Israel has transformed the U.S.-built F-35, doubling its range while keeping the jet virtually invisible to radar.
It has given Israeli pilots the ability to strike targets more than 1,300 miles away.
The upgraded fighters carry heavier payloads, fuse data from advanced sensors, and link with each other and accompanying drones to create a real-time battlefield picture.
Israeli engineers have added their own classified systems and combat-honed enhancements, many shaped by the F-35’s decisive performance in June’s 12-day war with Iran, when its stealth and targeting capabilities shattered Iran’s air defenses and secured air superiority.
Surf's Up! Tel Aviv Wave Park Makes A Splash
Surf Park Tel Aviv, officially stylized as SRF Park TLV, is a new artificial wave park exploding in popularity.
Visitors told Newsmax Israel correspondent Jodie Cohen the vibe is unmatched.
“The energy is so good inside and outside the water,” one woman said.
Another called it “amazing… good vibes, good teachers,” a rare place for real waves in Israel.
One man said everyone brings a “unique and good vibe,” while another described the rush of catching a wave as “something I can’t explain in words.”
Kardashian launches SKIMS in Israel With 15 Stores
Kim Kardashian is planting her flagship brand in Israel.
Her shapewear brand SKIMS just launched online sales in the country as part of a major expansion that will bring 15 standalone stores by 2026.
The rollout includes the brand’s signature shapewear, loungewear, and bodysuits — collections Kardashian says are built on “innovation, fit, and everyday comfort."
The expansion realizes "a long-term vision to build a meaningful commercial and community presence in Israel, delivering an international-calibre shopping experience that embodies SKIMS’ values of innovation and comfort," the company said.
Spoon-Bending Legend Uri Geller Still Has The Magic
Inside the Museum of Uri Geller, the famed mystifier walked Newsmax Israel correspondent Jodie Cohen through his wall of celebrity encounters: Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, Elton John and Michael Jackson.
Then, right in front of Cohen, Geller placed a finger on a metal spoon and demonstrated the act that made him a global sensation.
He said he was “injecting energy” as the spoon softened, folded, and curled into a sharp 90-degree bend within seconds.
“I’m 79 and I still bend spoons,” he said, showing that the decades haven’t dulled his signature move.
Isrotel Opens First New Dead Sea Hotel in 20 Years
Kayma Hotel by Isrotel has debuted after being built over eight years at a cost of about $39 million.
The boutique 44-room property boasts two infinity pools, a spa, and gym.
Kayma also emphasizes an elevated culinary program, serving breakfast to order and offering a fish-and-dairy restaurant built around ingredients from Isrotel’s own Galilee dairy.
The rooms follow a desert-inspired palette and open onto either the pool or the shoreline, with guests receiving baskets, hats, and flip-flops as part of the stay.
Secrets of the Wall: How Israel Handles Thousands of Holy Notes
What happens to the thousands of handwritten prayers stuffed into the Western Wall?
According to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, the centuries-old custom began in the early 1700s and expanded through the 19th century.
Today, notes are cleared out twice a year — before Passover and before the Jewish New Year — using wooden sticks in a careful, reverent process.
The prayers, including one submitted by President Donald Trump through Ambassador Mike Huckabee, are then buried on the Mount of Olives in keeping with Jewish tradition.
OECD Hails Israel's Wartime Farm Surge
Israel’s farm sector didn’t just survive the war — it surged.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said Israel kept agriculture stable and growing even under fire, boosted by a government move that more than doubled the quota of foreign farm workers from 30,000 to 70,000.
Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said Israel “looked forward and upward” in wartime — and the OECD report shows the numbers to prove it.
How Two Dreamers Built Israel’s Desert Oasis
In the Negev Desert, farm pioneers Adina and Yankele Moskovitz have turned sand into salad.
The founders of Moshav Kadesh Barnea were mocked as “crazy” 45 years ago for trying to grow vegetables in a drought.
But now global delegations show up just to see how they pulled it off.
Adina says it started with nothing more than “a dream” and two idealists who wanted to build something with their own hands — and today their work is fueling the desert-to-oasis revolution Israel is exporting to the world.