This morning's Opening Bell Ceremony at TASE marked the unveiling of the 2026 Maala ESG Rating, alongside the results of the Diversity, Inclusion and Gender Equality Rating, celebrating 20 years of measuring and promoting corporate responsibility in Israel.
Among the key findings reflected in this year's rating - corporate donations totaled approximately NIS 750 million, significantly higher than pre-war levels, although lower than last year's record. Female representation on corporate boards increased slightly to 36%. Employment levels of Arab and ultra-Orthodox employees remained stable, while the employment of people with disabilities recorded a modest increase. Industrial and infrastructure companies reported a notable increase in the use of renewable energy.
About 150 companies from a wide range of sectors participated in this year's rating, including industry, food, services, high-tech, banking, insurance and financial services, defense industries, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy and food-tech.
The participating companies generate combined revenues of approximately NIS 570 billion, representing around 25% of Israel's GDP, and employ approximately 200,000 people in Israel, accounting for nearly 10% of the country's private-sector workforce.
The rating also serves as the basis for the TA-Maala Index, which includes leading publicly traded companies demonstrating strong corporate responsibility practices. In 2025, the index generated a return of 68.5%, compared with 51.0% for the TA-125 Index.
The distinguished participants of the ceremony included Tamar Yasur, Chair of Maala and Chair of Isracard; Momo Mahadav, CEO of Maala; Ron Klein, EVP and Head of the Economics Department at TASE; Rotem Avidar-Tzalik, Founder and CEO of the Reservists Lobby; Lior Rochman, CEO of Habaita – Returning to the Galilee; and Benny Gabay, Chairman of The Phoenix Group.
Momo Mahadav, CEO of Maala: "The 2026 Maala ESG Rating marks 20 years of advancing corporate responsibility in Israel. This year's results highlight the unique characteristics of Israeli corporate responsibility. While the global conversation often focuses on climate issues and the differences between approaches in Europe and the United States, leading Israeli companies continue to demonstrate a deep commitment to Israeli society and to addressing local needs, while at the same time making progress in tackling environmental and climate-related challenges."
Ron Klein, EVP, Head of the Economic Department at TASE: "At a time when the Israeli economy is facing significant challenges, the contribution of companies that operate responsibly and focus on long-term value creation stands out more than ever. The resilience of Israel's capital market is driven not only by financial performance, but also by strong management, transparency and companies' ability to create sustainable economic and social value over time. TASE will continue to promote an innovative, transparent and responsible capital market for the benefit of both investors and listed companies."
In the photo: Senior executives representing companies participating in the opening bell ceremony.
Photo credit: Guy Yechiely
