Israel is ranked in 20th place for economic strength. It has climbed 20 places from 45th to 25th in the ratings for international investment

Israel is classified by the survey as “Moderately Free” and is ranked three places lower than in 2006. According to the index the freest economy is Hong Kong

According to“Euromoney”, Israel scored in total 68.2 points, out of the maximum 100, in the 2006 rankings. Israel is down two places

The 2006 Index of Economic Freedom, published last week by the Heritage Foundation and “The Wall Street Journal”, ranks Israel in the 36th place

Officials from Israel's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development department of veterinary services and animal health met last week their Jordanian counterparts at the Allenby Bridge border crossing to coordinate measures against bird flu

In January 2005 import of goods (excluding diamonds) totaled $2.8 billion, export of goods (excluding diamonds) totaled $2.0 billion and the trade deficit (excluding diamonds) totaled $0.8 billion

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced last week that, El Al Israel airlines will be allowed to operate a weekly cargo flight from Hong Kong to Europe. The announcement came following Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom's request to the Hong Kong

The latest report issued last week by the World Economic Forum, on Global Competitiveness, ranks Israel in nineteenth place among 104 countries. Israel advanced in the present report one place higher from its rank of 20th in 2003's report