Bank of Israel Holds Interest Rate Steady in First Meeting Since Start of War

Israel’s central bank on Monday held its interest rate steady at its first meeting since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, likely in an effort to keep depreciation of the shekel in check, despite the war inflicting new uncertainties on the country’s economy. The Bank of Israel kept its benchmark rate at 4.75% for the third meeting in a row, coming after a series of rate rises since April 2022, when it was 0.1%.