President of the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce Mr. Uriel Lynn, openly criticized last week the Knesset Finance Committee's decision to raise duties on selected food products.

According to information released by the Israel Ports Authority, over 50 candidates already applied for the job of director of the independent Ashdod Port.

A legal claim for NIS 8 million was lodged last week in the Tel Aviv District Court by Israeli airline Israir against El Al Israel Airlines. Israir alleges that El Al had abused its monopolistic power on the Tel Aviv-New York route, and thereby damaged Is

Almost a year after the EU absorbed 10 new members, the Union endorsed at the beginning of December the "European Neighborhood" accords with seven of its neighbors.

The Second Financial Protocol for cooperation between Israel and China was signed last week by the Accountant General of the Israel Ministry of Finance and the Vice-Minister of Finance of the PRC

Mr. Shraga Brosh chairman of the Israel Export and International Cooperation Institute said last week that "The sharp shekel appreciation against the dollar will reduce growth over the next two years"

Figures published last week by the Israel Tax Authority show that imports of cars and electrical appliances continued growing in November, in comparison with November 2003

According to an analysis made by the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce of Statistic figures, published last week by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Israeli trade with the ten new members of the EU is 32% higher, compared with trade before