El Al reports record third-quarter revenue despite rise in input costs
(JNS)—Israel’s El Al Airlines on Nov. 5 reported record third-quarter revenue of some $1.27 billion.
The figure accompanied the airliner’s announcement of a dividend distribution of approximately $116 million and the company’s inclusion in the TA-35 Index, which tracks the performance of 35 large companies listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Compared with last year’s third-quarter, El Al registered a 14% decline in net profit, down from $203 million to approximately $172.2 million.
Compared with 2026’s second-quarter, the company recorded an increase of over 30% in net profit.
El Al further stated that its forward bookings at the end of the third quarter reached a record high of approximately $1.1 billion. In addition, the airliner said that it recorded an increase of 9% for this year’s third-quarter in available seat kilometers—a metric that represents the total number of seats the airline put up for sale—reaching the upper end of its forecasts.
EL AL CEO Levy Halevy said in a statement that his firm concluded the third quarter with “operational performance at the upper end of the forecasts we presented, and exceeding them … despite a significant rise in input costs driven by fuel prices and exchange rate fluctuations, alongside further intensification of competition.”
He attributed the company’s performance to “growth engines” El Al has developed such as the increased capacity of available seat kilometers while “maintaining high load factors,” which is the percentage of available seats filled by paying passengers.
El Al is a publicly traded, privately owned company with the Israeli government retaining a Special State Share (golden share). This grants the state some veto rights over specific corporate actions in security matters.
Israel, Slovenia hold first political-strategic dialogue
(JNS)—Israel and Slovenia held their first political-strategic dialogue in Ljubljana, led by Israeli Foreign Ministry political director Gilad Cohen, the ministry announced. Discussions focused on diplomatic and strategic issues and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
During his visit, Cohen also met with Slovenia’s deputy defense minister and senior advisers to the prime minister and defense minister. The dialogue followed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s Sept. 9 visit to Ljubljana and the opening of Israel’s first resident embassy in Slovenia.
Jewish families move into eight homes near Jericho after secret purchase
(JNS)—Jewish families moved into eight homes in the Jericho area following a secret purchase, the Binyamin Regional Council and the Nachala Movement said in a joint statement on Nov. 5.
The Binyamin Regional Council and the Nachala Movement said the homes are built on state-owned land, including on the outskirts of Jericho, near the Hasmonean palaces archaeological site.
The groups said the purchase, which is backed by ownership documents, was kept secret until the families entered, and had been carried out “under the nose of the Palestinian Authority.”
The statement called Jericho a city “abandoned” by the Jewish state under the Oslo Accords.
“We are dismantling the Oslo Accords through our actions; we are returning home,” said Binyamin Regional Council head Yisrael Gantz, who also chairs the Yesha Council, the umbrella group representing Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
Nachala chairwoman Daniella Weiss called the move “a major step toward renewing Jewish settlement in Jewish cities,” saying the initiative aims to return Jewish life to cities across Judea and Samaria.
“Families are working to fulfill the verse: ‘And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets,’” she added, citing Zechariah 8:5.
According to the Bible, Jericho, the fortified “city of palm trees,” was the first town the Israelites conquered in the Land of Israel after crossing the Jordan River.
In 1994, Jericho became the first city in Judea and Samaria handed over to the P.A. The transfer came with a promise that the new Palestinian security forces would let Jewish pilgrims safely visit two Byzantine-era synagogues in the greater Jericho area.
The P.A. has largely failed to honor its commitments. On Oct. 12, 2000, early in the Second Intifada, rioters torched the Shalom Al Yisrael synagogue, burned holy books and damaged its ancient mosaic floor.
According to Jewish tradition, the synagogue was built where an angel told Joshua: “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy” (Joshua 5:15).
Liberman signals compromise on haredi draft to help form anti-Netanyahu government
(JNS)—Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Liberman said on Nov. 6 that he is prepared to compromise on legislation governing haredi military conscription, marking a significant shift that could open a path to a 61-seat government led by Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot.
“The election results require all of us to recalculate our route and understand that there are no good alternatives or magic solutions before us,” Liberman wrote on social media.
“In the political reality that has been created, national responsibility requires us to make difficult decisions and be prepared for painful compromises,” he said.
Liberman maintained three red lines: ending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure, avoiding another election and refusing to establish a government dependent on the abstention in votes of no-confidence of the Joint List or Ra’am, the Arab parties.
On other issues, however, he said compromise was necessary—including on one of the issues most closely associated with Yisrael Beiteinu.
“On all other issues, it is permissible and desirable to be flexible and compromise, and to understand that if you grasp too much, you grasp nothing,” Liberman said. “That includes the issue of the conscription law.
“It pains me, and I know it pains many others as well,” he added. “But in light of the many challenges we face today, the national interest of the State of Israel and the Jewish people must stand above every other consideration.”
Chinese envoy participates in KKL-JNF tree planting ceremony in northern Negev
(JNS)—Chinese Ambassador to Israel Xiao Junzheng was welcomed at the Israel-China Friendship Forest on Nov. 4 for a ceremonial tree planting celebrating the longstanding environmental cooperation between Israel and China, the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) said.
The ceremony was attended by KKL-JNF chairman Eyal Ostrinsky and other representatives of the nonprofit, as well as staff of the Embassy of China, the statement read.
The forest was inaugurated in 2014 in the Lahav Forest area, some 12 miles north of Beersheva, in the presence of a senior Chinese delegation and representatives of KKL-JNF.
