''Haaretz'' ( , originally ''Ḥadshot Haaretz'' – , ) is an
Israeli newspaper. It was founded in 1918, making it the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel, and is now published in both
Hebrew
Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
and
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
in the
Berliner
Berliner is most often used to designate a citizen of Berlin, Germany
Berliner may also refer to:
People
* Berliner (surname)
Places
* Berliner Lake, a lake in Minnesota, United States
* Berliner Philharmonie, concert hall in Berlin, Germany
...
format. The English edition is published and sold together with the ''
International New York Times
''The New York Times International Edition'' is an English-language daily newspaper distributed internationally by the New York Times Company. It has been published in two separate periods, one from 1943 to 1967 and one from 2013 to the prese ...
''. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the internet. In North America, it is published as a
weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general-news or Current affairs (news format), current affairs publication that is issued once or twice a week in a wide variety broadsheet, magazine, and electronic publishing, digital formats. Similarly, a biweekly new ...
, combining articles from the Friday edition with a roundup from the rest of the week. It is considered Israel's
newspaper of record
A newspaper of record is a major national newspaper with large circulation whose editorial and news-gathering functions are considered authoritative and independent; they are thus "newspapers of record by reputation" and include some of the o ...
. It is known for its
left-wing
Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...
and
liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
stances on domestic and foreign issues.
As of 2022, ''Haaretz'' has the third-largest
circulation in Israel.
It is widely read by international observers, especially in its English edition, and discussed in the international press. According to the
Center for Research Libraries
The Center for Research Libraries (also known by its acronym, CRL) is a consortium of North American universities, colleges, and independent research libraries, based on a buy-in concept for membership of the consortia. The consortium acquires an ...
, among Israel's daily newspapers, "''Haaretz'' is considered the most influential and respected for both its news coverage and its commentary."
History and ownership
''Haaretz'' was first published in 1918 as a newspaper sponsored by the British military government in
Palestine
__NOTOC__
Palestine may refer to:
* State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia
* Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia
* Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...
. In 1919, it was taken over by a group of
socialist-oriented Zionists, mainly from
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
.
The newspaper was established on 18 June 1919 by a group of businessmen including the philanthropist
Isaac Leib Goldberg
Isaac Leib Goldberg ( he, יצחק לייב גולדברג, 7 February 1860 – 14 September 1935) was a Zionist leader and philanthropist in both Ottoman Palestine and the Russian Empire, and one of the principal founders of Rishon LeZion, th ...
, and initially, it was called ''Hadashot Ha'aretz'' ("News of the Land"). Later, the name was shortened to ''Haaretz''. The literary section of the paper attracted leading Hebrew writers of the time.
The newspaper was initially published in
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. From 1919 to 1922, the paper was headed by a succession of editors, among them
Leib Yaffe. It was closed briefly due to a budgetary shortfall and reopened in Tel Aviv at the beginning of 1923 under the editorship of Moshe Glickson, who held the post for 15 years.
The Tel Aviv municipality granted the paper financial support by paying in advance for future advertisements.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, ''Haaretz''s liberal viewpoint was to some degree associated with the
General Zionist "A" faction,
which later helped form the
Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to:
Active parties
* Progressive Party, Brazil
* Progressive Party (Chile)
* Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus
* Dominica Progressive Party
* Progressive Party (Iceland)
* Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...
, though it was nonpartisan and careful not to espouse any specific party line. It was considered the most sophisticated of the
Yishuv
Yishuv ( he, ישוב, literally "settlement"), Ha-Yishuv ( he, הישוב, ''the Yishuv''), or Ha-Yishuv Ha-Ivri ( he, הישוב העברי, ''the Hebrew Yishuv''), is the body of Jewish residents in the Land of Israel (corresponding to the s ...
's dailies.
[
]Salman Schocken
Salman Schocken or Shlomo Zalman Schocken ( he, שלמה זלמן שוקן) (October 30, 1877 August 6, 1959) was a German Jewish publisher, and co-founder of the large Kaufhaus Schocken chain of department stores in Germany. Stripped of his citi ...
, a Jewish businessman who left Germany in 1934 after the Nazis
Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...
had come to power, bought the paper in December 1935. Schocken was active in Brit Shalom, also known as the Jewish–Palestinian Peace Alliance, a body supporting co-existence between Jews and Arabs which was sympathetic to a homeland for both peoples. His son, Gershom Schocken
Gershom Gustav Schocken ( he, גרשום גוסטב שוקן, 29 September 1912 20 December 1990) was an Israeli journalist and politician who was editor of ''Haaretz'' for more than 50 years and a member of the Knesset for the Progressive Party b ...
, became the chief editor in 1939 and held that position until his death in 1990.
The Schocken family were the sole owners of the Haaretz Group until August 2006, when they sold a 25% stake to German publisher M. DuMont Schauberg
M. DuMont Schauberg is one of Germany's oldest and largest publishing houses. It was founded by Bertram Hilden in 1620.
The company has been run by the Neven du Mont family since 1805, when Marcus du Mont acquired the ''Kölnische Zeitung'' ...
. The deal was negotiated with the help of the former Israeli ambassador to Germany, Avi Primor
Avraham "Avi“ Primor ( he, אבי פרימור, born 8 April 1935 in Tel Aviv) is an Israeli publicist and former diplomat. From 1987 to 1993, he served as Ambassador to the European Union, and from 1993 to 1999 as Ambassador to Germany. After ...
. This deal was seen as controversial in Israel as DuMont Schauberg's father, Kurt Neven DuMont, was member of the Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...
and his publishing house promoted Nazi ideology.
On 12 June 2011, it was announced that Russian-Israeli businessman Leonid Nevzlin
Leonid Borisovich Nevzlin (russian: Леони́д Бори́сович Не́взлин; he, לאוניד בוריסוביץ' נבזלין, born 21 September 1959) is a Russian-born Israeli businessman, investor, and philanthropist.
Nevzlin oc ...
had purchased a 20% stake in the Haaretz Group, buying 15% from the family and 5% from M. DuMont Schauberg. In December 2019, members of the Schocken family bought all of the Haaretz stock belonging to M. DuMont Schauberg.[ The deal saw the Schocken family reach 75% ownership, with the remaining 25% owned by Leonid Nevzlin.][
In October 2012, a union strike mobilized to protest planned layoffs by the ''Haaretz'' management, causing a one-day interruption of ''Haaretz'' and its ''TheMarker'' business supplement. According to ]Israel Radio
''Kol Yisrael'' or ''Kol Israel'' ( lit. "Voice of Israel", also "Israel Radio") is Israel's public domestic and international radio service. It operated as a division of the Israel Broadcasting Service from 1951 to 1965, the Israel Broadcastin ...
, it was the first time since 1965 that a newspaper did not go to press on account of a strike.
Management
The newspaper's editorial policy was defined by Gershom Schocken
Gershom Gustav Schocken ( he, גרשום גוסטב שוקן, 29 September 1912 20 December 1990) was an Israeli journalist and politician who was editor of ''Haaretz'' for more than 50 years and a member of the Knesset for the Progressive Party b ...
, who was editor-in-chief from 1939 to 1990. Schocken was succeeded as editor-in-chief by Hanoch Marmari. In 2004 David Landau replaced Marmari and was succeeded by Dov Alfon
Dov Alfon ( he, דב אלפון) (born 1961) is an Israeli journalist and author. He was the chief editor of Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir, Israel's largest publishing house. From 2008 to 2011, he was editor in chief of '' Haaretz'', a respected Isra ...
in 2008.[ The current editor-in-chief of the newspaper is ]Aluf Benn
Aluf Benn ( he, אלוף בן, born 1965) is an Israeli journalist, author and editor-in-chief[Alu ...](_blank)
, who replaced Alfon in August 2011. Charlotte Halle became editor of the English print edition in February 2008.
Walter Gross was a member of the governing editorial board and a columnist with the paper from 1951 to 1995.
Editorial policy and viewpoints
''Haaretz'' describes itself as having "a broadly liberal outlook both on domestic issues and on international affairs", and has been summarized as being "liberal on security, civil rights and economy, supportive of the Supreme Court, very critical of Netanyahu's government". Others describe it alternatively as liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
, centre-left
Centre-left politics lean to the left on the left–right political spectrum but are closer to the centre than other left-wing politics. Those on the centre-left believe in working within the established systems to improve social justice. The c ...
, left-wing
Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...
, and the country's only major left-leaning newspaper. The newspaper opposes retaining control of the territories and consistently supports peace initiatives. The ''Haaretz'' editorial line is supportive of weaker elements in Israeli society, such as sex workers, foreign laborers, Israeli Arabs
The Arab citizens of Israel are the largest ethnic minority in the country. They comprise a hybrid community of Israeli citizens with a heritage of Palestinian citizenship, mixed religions (Muslim, Christian or Druze), bilingual in Arabic an ...
, Ethiopian immigrants, and Russian immigrants.[
In 2006, the ]BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
said that ''Haaretz'' takes a moderate stance on foreign policy and security.
'' described ''Haaretz'' as "easily the most liberal newspaper in Israel", its ideology as left-wing and its temper as "insistently oppositional".
pages are open to a variety of opinions.
daily paper". Stephen Glain of ''
'' described ''Haaretz'' as "Israel's liberal beacon", citing its editorials voicing opposition to the occupation, the discriminatory treatment of Arab citizens, and the mindset that led to the
.