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☆ Israel’s economy is paying a high price for its widening war
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

London CNN —In late September, as Israel’s nearly year-long war widened and its credit rating was downgraded yet again, the country’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said that, while Israel’s economy was under strain, it was resilient. Israel’s economy could shrink even more than that, based on a worst-case estimate by the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. Before the October 7 attack and ensuing Israel-Hamas war, the International Monetary Fund forecast that Israel’s economy would grow by an enviable 3.4% this year. Smotrich, the finance minister, is confident that Israel’s economy will bounce back once the war ends, but economists are concerned the damage will far outlast the conflict. Florion Goga/ReutersOther sectors of Israel’s economy, while less important than tech, have been hit much harder.

Persons: London CNN —, Bezalel Smotrich, ” Smotrich, Hassan Nasrallah, ratcheting, Karnit, ‘, Menahem Kahana, ”, “ Israel, “, Smotrich —, Flug, Ahmad Gharabli, Fitch, —, Coface, Avi Hasson, Hasson, Florion Goga, Yaron Liberman, ” Liberman Organizations: London CNN, CNN, West Bank, United Nations, BMI, Fitch Solutions, Institute for National Security, Tel Aviv University, International Monetary Fund, of Israel, Getty, Bank of Israel, Israel Democracy Institute, Institute for National Security Studies, Moody’s, Startup Nation Locations: Lebanon’s, Beirut, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel’s, Iran, AFP, Egypt, Syria, Golan, Jerusalem's Old City, United States, Tel Aviv, housebuilding . Tourism

☆ 'They're not reaching out to us': How the Israel-Hamas war demolished Gaza's struggling tech economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Riddhi Kanetkar | Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Palestinian tech workers in the Gaza Strip and West Bank are struggling to operate in the crossfire. AdvertisementAdvertisementPalestinian tech workers have comparatively fewer resources (namely internet connectivity and cash) at their disposal and tend to be reliant on outsourced work. This affects remote workers, freelancers, tech workers, and students who "won't be able to pursue their duties," Shtaya added. It was already difficult to import hardware and other equipment, the West Bank consultant said. Nvidia hired 100 engineers in the West Bank, and Apple also has a presence, TechCrunch reported.

Persons: —, Ryan Sturgill, TechCrunch, Avi Hasson, Israel, Mona Shtaya, Shtaya, PayPal doesn't Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, Service, Aqsa University, Google, Microsoft, TechCrunch, Mercy Corps, Israel Innovation Authority, Nation Central, Gaza Health Ministry, Gaza, Institute, Middle East, Bank, Israel, Wired, PayPal, Tech, Nvidia, Apple Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, Al, Israel, Hamas, Egypt, Europe, Persian

☆ Israel-Hamas war risks further deglobalization and inflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington, DC CNN —The global economy is facing tremendous uncertainty from the war between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East, on top of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. They say Israel’s declaration of war against Hamas could be yet another catalyst for deglobalization, though the extent of that is still up in the air. If deglobalization does get exacerbated, what would that mean for inflation and monetary policy, globally? With deglobalization, you get a global economic environment that’s less competitive, and when there’s less competition, that is ultimately inflationary, causing prices to rise. Over the Covid era, China shut down production, disrupting the global supply chain, so deglobalization would bring some production back within US borders.

Persons: Wells, Bell, Brendan McKenna, that’s, Trump, there’s, Hanna Ziady, we’ve, ”, Avi Hasson, Patrick Harker, John Williams, Tom Barkin, Michelle Bowman, Tesla, Christopher Waller, Lisa Cook, Jerome Powell, Austan Goolsbee, Michael Barr, Raphael Bostic, Loretta Mester Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Trump, Hamas, Nation Central, Philadelphia Fed, US Commerce Department, Federal Reserve, National Association of Home Builders, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Procter & Gamble, United Kingdom’s, National Statistics, American Airlines, US Labor Department, Federal, Fed Locations: Washington, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, China, Wells Fargo, Gaza, deglobalization, United States, Mexico, US, Tel Aviv, New York

☆ How the tech sector in Israel is navigating the war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Israel’s vast tech sector has seen its fair share of crises, from financial downturns and the Covid-19 pandemic to periodic flare-ups in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “This is different than anything we’ve faced before,” said Avi Hasson, the CEO of Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), a non-profit that promotes Israel’s tech industry globally. “Seasoned investors with experience backing Israeli startups are not backing away due to the war,” said Samid of TechAviv. For many in Israel’s tech industry, the devastating circumstances have only served to underscore the sector’s famed resilience. “Israeli [tech] hasn’t stopped,” Hasson noted.

Persons: we’ve, ”, Avi Hasson, wasn’t, Leah Walters, Monday.com, Rafael Henrique, Yaron Samid, Jensen Huang, Jon Medved, “, Hillel Fuld, it’s, hasn’t, ” Hasson Organizations: London CNN, Hamas, Nation Central, CNN, Tech, SNC, Nasdaq, Tel, Nvidia, Israel Innovation Authority, ” Tech, Microsoft, Google Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, “, Israeli

☆ Israel's tech hub is a crucial part of its economy. Now, startups could face tougher funding rounds amid the war, experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Getting overseas funding could become difficult for Israel's tech industry amid the war, experts told Reuters. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementIsrael's tech startups have already been facing a tough year attracting funding amid the implosion of a major lender for start-ups, global recession fears, and rising borrowing rates. Investment in Israel's tech startups has already been falling for seven straight quarters even before the war started, according to a report by the think tank Startup Nation Policy Institute, released on September 30. AdvertisementAdvertisementTech insiders also express optimism for the industry, citing Israel's reputation as an established tech hub.

Persons: —, Jon Medved, Avi Hasson, Catalyst, Hasson Organizations: Reuters, Tech, Silicon Valley Bank, Service, Nation Central, Investment, Nation Policy Institute, Israel ., Insight Partners Locations: Israel, Silicon, Tel Aviv, Europe, Israel . New York

☆ Analysis: War with Hamas threatens funding recovery in Israel's vital tech industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Steven Scheer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"This is not a particularly easy time to get investment," he added, noting the number of flights to Israel that have been cancelled. CONFIDENCE EARNEDThat said, Hasson and others expect Israel's tech sector to rebound in the same way it has in past conflicts with Palestinian and Hezbollah militants. Medved said that he believes that Israel will prevail as an tech investment destination. "Historically, every time Israel has gone to war, long term has been a buy side," he said. "That shift may even help push those investors who might have been reluctant (to invest in Israel)," he said.

Persons: Jon Medved, Israel, Maya Eisen Zafrir, Avi Hasson, Hasson, Medved, Arie Zilberstein, Gem's, Ariel Efergan, Hillel Fuld, Steven Scheer, Krystal Hu, Louise Heavens Organizations: Overseas, OurCrowd, Hamas, Silicon Valley Bank, IVC Research, Investment, Startup Nation, Israel, U.S, Insight Partners, Security, Startup, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Yom, Silicon, Palestinian, New York, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

"It's just a very high level of uncertainty," said Amit, who is registering his artificial intelligence-based cloud security firm Gomboc in Delaware. Michael Fertik, founder of Heroic Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture investor, has invested in more than a dozen Israeli startups since 2015. He insists on Delaware incorporation and existing Israeli startups seeking a new funding round from him must switch. But the Israeli government's judicial overhaul is casting a shadow for some. Adam Fisher, a partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and long-time investor in Israeli startups, has been happy to invest in Israeli-based tech firms over the past decade.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Benjamin, Ian Amit, Amit, Ami Applebaum, Yair Geva, Herzog, Fox, Neeman, Ronen Feldman, Michael Fertik, Adam Fisher, Fisher, Ayal Shenhav, Steven Scheer, Emily Rose, Mark Potter Organizations: U.S Embassy, REUTERS, Entrepreneurs, Reuters, Israel Innovation Authority, Ministry of Innovation, Science, Technology, Startup Nation, Heroic Ventures, Delaware C Corp, Bessemer Venture Partners, Gross, Co, TechAviv, Partners, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, JERUSALEM, United States, Delaware

☆ Startup nation no more? Investments plunge as Israel pushes on with judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Elliott Gotkine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The judicial overhaul and the uncertainty, disruption and risks that come with it, are forcing him to shift Tipalti’s money and talent overseas, he says. The company keeps all its funds outside Israel, apart from three months’ payroll as required by its bank, he says. At the same time, money going into Israel’s 7,000 startups is plunging, says Ari Strasberg, SNC’s Vice President of Strategy. According to SNC, tech startups raised $15.5 billion in 2022, the equivalent to just under 3% of the country’s GDP. Protesters still hope the government will reverse course, or that its judicial overhaul bills will be struck down by the Supreme Court.

Persons: Chen Amit, ” Amit, Amit, Robert Israch, –, He’s, Ari Strasberg, ”, Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich Organizations: Israel CNN, Kaplan, CNN, Nation Central ”, “ Investments, SNC, Finance Ministry, Technology, Supreme Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Foster City , California, Israeli

It was a paid ad by a group of high-tech companies protesting against Netanyahu's judicial policies, which analysts say have unleashed a slew of risks, both for Israel's economy and for his own political future. Israel's shekel moved on every twist and turn in parliament as efforts to reach a judicial compromise intensified and finally crashed. For now, Israel's economy is relatively robust, with growth forecast at 3% this year and unemployment at a 3.5% rate. Even if Netanyahu chooses to scrap plans for further judicial changes, damage will be hard to fix. The tech sector has a lot to lose if more controversial judicial changes come because firms need a trusted legal system to protect their intellectual property.

Persons: Netanyahu, Moody's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's shekel, Morgan Stanley, Itzchak Raz, Netanyahu's, They're, Raz, Avi Hasson, Nicholas Farr, Amir Yaron, Amotz Asa, Asa, Shalom Hartman, Maayan Lubell, William Maclean Organizations: Government, Hebrew University, Israel Innovation Authority, Nation Central, Capital Economics, Analysts, Bank, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Israeli startups act to relocate over judicial shakeup, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 23 (Reuters) - Nearly 70% of Israeli startups have taken action to relocate parts of their business outside Israel, a survey released on Sunday by an Israeli non-profit organisation on the government's planned judicial overhaul found. The survey, completed by professionals representing 521 companies, said 68% of Israeli startup companies "have begun taking active legal and financial steps, like withdrawing cash reserves, changing HQ location outside Israel, relocation of employees and conducting layoffs." Additionally, 22% of companies said they have diversified cash reserves outside Israel and 37% of investors say companies in their portfolios have withdrawn some of their cash reserves and moved them abroad. "Concerning trends like registering a company abroad or launching new startups outside Israel will be hard to reverse," said Start-Up Nation Central CEO Avi Hasson. The survey was released as lawmakers began debating a bill that would prevent the Supreme Court from quashing legislation on the grounds of manifest "unreasonableness".

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Avi Hasson, Emily Rose, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Nation Central, Thomson Locations: Israel, Israeli

☆ Tel Aviv Stock Exchange picks economist Kandel as new chair
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM, May 1 (Reuters) - The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has appointed veteran Israeli economist and former advisor to the prime minister, Eugene Kandel, as its new chairperson, the bourse said on Monday in a regulatory filing. The appointment still requires shareholder approval. Kandel previously served as chair of Israel's National Economic Council and as an economic adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as CEO of Start-Up Nation Central a group connecting international business and government leaders with Israeli technologies. Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch Editing by Steven ScheerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Israel’s Netanyahu says damage to investor confidence ‘a momentary problem’ as mass protests persist
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Protestors gather in Tel Aviv on April 15 to stage a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government's regulations restricting the powers of the judiciary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed concerns about damaged investor confidence, despite massive and intensifying weekly protests over his planned overhaul of the country's judiciary. I think the momentary fluff, the momentary dust that is in the air is just that — dust. The country has been rocked by mass protests over the government's months-long bid to push through deeply contentious judicial reforms. Netanyahu, re-elected in November to serve as prime minister for a third time, agreed late last month to delay the planned judicial reforms.

The dollar strengthened 0.22% to 146.18 yen in Asian trading, after pushing as high as 146.39 for the first time since August 1998. The Japanese currency is particularly sensitive to the gap between U.S. and Japanese long-term bond yields. Japanese authorities staged their first yen-buying intervention since 1998 on Sept. 22, when the yen tumbled to as low as 145.90 per dollar. Elsewhere, sterling which earlier touched $1.0925, marking a fresh low since Sept. 29, bounced 0.4% to $1.1008 after the FT report. The euro slumped to its weakest since Sept. 29 overnight at $0.9670 and remained not far from that level, trading 0.08% lower than Tuesday's close at $0.96975.

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