Israel‘s central bank is expected to hold short-term interest rates steady this week, but analysts belief a rate cut is now possible by the end of the year — a reversal from last month when rate hikes were deemed likely in 2019.
All 12 economists polled by Reuters said policymakers would leave the Bank of Israel‘s benchmark rate at 0.25% when it announces its decision at 4 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Wednesday.
After making a surprise increase from 0.1% last November, the Bank of Israel has left the key rate unchanged at its five subsequent policy meetings, the last being on July 8.
Economists said rates will remain unchanged amid a drop in inflation, lower rates around the world, a strong shekel and solid economic growth of around 3%.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) prayed for regime change in Venezuela and thus help for its citizens at the Western Wall in Jerusalem while on a trip this week to Israel.
“Today, I visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray for an end to Nicolás Maduro’s evil regime and genocide in #Venezuela,” tweeted the freshman senator on Wednesday.
Scott’s tweet came as Maduro said he wants to meet with US President Donald Trump amid the economic and diplomatic pressure on Venezuela from the United States, which, along with more than 50 countries, recognize the head of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the country’s interim president.
Officials from the United States and Maduro’s administration have reportedly held talks.

President Donald Trump on Monday claimed that first lady Melania Trump has “gotten to know” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, prompting the White House to clarify that the two have never met.
Trump made the comment at a news conference at the Group of 7 summit in Biarritz, France. While answering a question about Iran, the president took a detour to discuss the country’s real estate potential, then pivoted to North Korea.
“I also say that, by the way, with respect to North Korea, Kim Jong Un – who I’ve gotten to know extremely well; the first lady had gotten to know Kim Jong Un, and I think she’d agree with me – he is a man with a country that has tremendous potential,” Trump said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday spoke to Vice President Mike Pence, who said that the US backs Israel’s right to self defense, as tensions skyrocket in the Middle East.
“Had a great conversation with Prime Minister @netanyahu this morning. The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself from imminent threats. Under President @realDonaldTrump, America will always stand with Israel!” Pence wrote on Twitter.
The statement of support comes amid reports of Israeli airstrikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, and a war of words between Israeli officials and leaders in neighboring countries, heightening fears of further violence in the region.

US prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Robert Bowers, the man accused of bursting into a Pittsburgh synagogue last year with a semi-automatic rifle and shooting 11 people to death, according to court papers filed on Monday.
Bowers, 46, shouted, “All Jews must die,” as he fired on congregants gathered for a Sabbath service at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, authorities said.
Bowers has pleaded not guilty in US District Court in Pittsburgh to a 63-count indictment.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Monday made her first public appearance since completing radiation treatment for her latest bout with cancer, saying it was “both a joy and a sorrow” to appear at an event organized by a college friend who died late last year.
The 86-year-old justice received an honorary degree in the morning and regaled a packed performing arts hall in the evening.
She was invited last year by Wayne Wisbaum, a friend from her undergraduate days at Cornell. Wisbaum died in December, but not before making sure Ginsburg could still attend the event, which included an honorary degree at the University at Buffalo law school.

Many of the millions of people who shop on Amazon.com see it as if it were an American big-box store, a retailer with goods deemed safe enough for customers. In practice, Amazon has increasingly evolved like a flea market. It exercises limited oversight over items listed by millions of third-party sellers, many of them anonymous, many in China, some offering scant information.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Monday called recent Israeli actions in his country’s territory “a declaration of war.”
On Sunday, a drone crashed in a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut.
Hezbollah claimed the drone was Israeli, though this has not been confirmed.
The Israeli news site Walla reported that Aoun, seen as an ally of Iran-backed Hezbollah, met with the UN representative in Lebanon and called the drone incident an “Israeli attack” and a “declaration of war.”
Another strike in Lebanon took place early Monday morning, targeting the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.

Amazon has removed an assortment of clothes sold on its UK site emblazoned with a notorious Holocaust photo in which a Jew in Ukraine is kneeling in front of a mass grave as a Nazi officer points a gun to his head, moments before shooting him, Channel 12 news reported on Saturday.
The retail giant took down the items plastered with the photo, known as “The Last Jew in Vinnitsa,” after it was contacted by the Israeli TV network.
The items included a hoodie, a t-shirt and a sweater pullover in various colors, all with the same Holocaust picture on them.
In the description of the items, the sellers from “Harma Art” wrote, “Choose from our great collection of authentic designs and stand out from the crowd!”