Daniele Moscati
Jewish Economic Forum
2 min readJan 30, 2023

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The Israeli Shekel has experienced a significant drop in value against the US dollar in recent weeks, as the currency has been buffeted by intensifying political and security concerns. The Shekel weakened by more than 2.5% against the dollar in the past week alone, and is now at its weakest level since March. The currency’s decline has been attributed to a variety of factors, ranging from the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas, to the ongoing political instability in Israel, to the unresolved budget crisis. The recent exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas, which began with the launching of rockets from Gaza into Israel, has exacerbated tensions between the two sides, leading to heightened security concerns and a sharp decline in investor confidence. Similarly, the ongoing political deadlock in the Knesset has made it impossible for the government to pass a budget and take decisive action, leading to further uncertainty in the economy. The Shekel’s decline has also been attributed to the increasing likelihood of a third election being held this year, which would further destabilize the economy and cause further losses of investor confidence. The implications of the Shekel’s decline are far-reaching, and could have a significant impact on the Israeli economy. A weaker Shekel means that imports become more expensive, which could lead to higher inflation and reduce purchasing power. This could in turn lead to a decrease in economic growth, as consumers are less able to purchase goods and services. The Shekel’s decline also has implications for foreign investors, who may now be less likely to invest in the Israeli market due to the increased risk associated with a weaker currency. It remains to be seen how the Shekel will react to the various political and security concerns in the coming weeks. However, it is clear that the current situation is unsustainable and that decisive action must be taken in order to restore investor confidence and stabilize the currency.

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