Jerusalem, 12 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Freedom of information requests submitted to local authorities across Israel—an Eastern Mediterranean nation—rose 15% to 11,111 in 2025, according to a joint annual report released by the Justice and Interior Ministries.
Despite rising public demand, 45 of Israel’s 258 municipalities and regional councils (17%) violated statutory transparency laws by failing to submit mandatory annual compliance reports, including the northern Arab city of Nazareth and the central West Bank settlement council of Elkana.
Jerusalem led the nation with 1,851 inquiries, followed by the southern Mediterranean port city of Ashdod (1,111) and central Israel’s Rishon LeZion (658).
While southern coastal cities like Sderot and Ashkelon posted the highest approval and rapid-response rates, courts ruled in favor of petitioners in 95.6% of the 294 transparency lawsuits adjudicated against local governments.
