The S&P credit rating agency announced on Friday that it would be leaving Israel's credit rating as A + with a stable outlook.

A year ago, in September of 2011, S&P raised Israel's credit rating to this level, due to the fact that it was able to maintain its budget and because of the forecast for higher earnings thanks to Mediterranean gas discoveries.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American Desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)