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The Maccabiah 2026 Games officially opened under the motto "More Than Ever"
Asaf Yasur and Inbar Lanir lit the torch. Nuno and Jimbo J performed a new version of the Maccabiah anthem.
After being postponed a year ago due to the "Am Kalavi" campaign, the Maccabiah 2026 Games officially opened this evening (June 15) with a celebratory ceremony on the rooftop of Tel Aviv City Hall.
The first shot of the summer games, which will be held under the motto "More Than Ever," was fired in the presence of Maccabiah President Assaf Goren; Maccabiah CEO Roy Hessing; KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky; Director of the Ministry of Culture and Sports Kfir Cohen; and lawyer Lior Shapira, Member of Parliament and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo. They were joined by the presenters of the opening ceremony at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, Assi Azar and Anna Aronov, and prominent Israeli Olympic and Paralympic athletes serving as Maccabiah Games ambassadors, including Artem Dolgopyat, Moran Samuel, and singer-songwriters Nuno and Jimbo J., who were chosen to perform the new Maccabiah Games anthem.
During the festive evening, the city's historical connection to the Games was highlighted. Tel Aviv, which hosted the Maccabiah Games in the early days of the State, will offer the Israeli public and its many visitors "Maccabiah City," a large-scale experiential sports festival to be held at Expo Tel Aviv, featuring activities for the whole family. One of the highlights of the evening was the unveiling of the official Maccabiah anthem, performed by Nuno and Jimbo J. The two joined forces to create a duet, reinterpreting Naomi Shemer's historic poem, originally written for the 1981 Maccabiah. The official music video, which will accompany the games this summer, was filmed at the Hadar Yosef Athletics Stadium and blends sporting tradition with the artists' contemporary style.
Assaf Goren, Maccabiah Chairman, said: “The Maccabiah is today a symbol of hope, recovery, and our determination as a people after the most difficult period we have experienced in this generation. Fortunately, we have overcome the challenges, and we look forward to welcoming thousands of guests from around the world who will come to compete, strengthen ties, and empower Israel, now more than ever.”
Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar stated: “I am proud and delighted to see the 2026 Maccabiah Games underway.” The Maccabiah is a bridge between Israel and the Jews of the Diaspora, and in these times, given all the challenges we face, it is more important than ever. The State of Israel is strong, sport guides us all, the Jewish people are alive and strong. I congratulate the Maccabiah organizers and all the collaborators who made this great event possible. Best of luck!
Attorney Lior Shapira, Member of Parliament and Deputy Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, said: “I am proud to open the Maccabiah in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. This event transcends the realm of sport. For us, it is a long-standing tradition that connects communities, countries, and hearts. Opening the Maccabiah in the midst of the complex period we are experiencing is a clear demonstration of resilience, unity, and continuity. We are excited to welcome thousands of guests from Israel and around the world, who bring energy and international connections, and contribute to the life of the city, the local economy, and businesses.” I invite the public to participate in the Maccabiah Games events, organized by Maccabiah City at Expo Tel Aviv, and to enjoy a diverse sporting and community experience for the whole family.
Eyal Ostrinsky, Chairman of the KKL-JNF: “The Maccabiah Games are much more than a sporting event; they are a unique and world-class Zionist event, representing the ultimate expression of the connection between Israel and the global Jewish community. The KKL-JNF is proud to be a partner in this historic project, which is celebrating its 94th anniversary and bringing together thousands of Jewish men and women in Israel for an unprecedented Zionist sporting celebration. This Maccabiah Games is more symbolic than ever.” It is the first Maccabiah Games since the October 7 massacre, a Maccabiah Games that was postponed following Operation Am Kalavi. And it is precisely the connection with the Otef and our resurrection as a people and society since that day, along with our life choices, that makes it so special, symbolizing the Israeli, Jewish, and Zionist spirit at its highest expression. During the event, at the upcoming opening ceremony, the bearers and torchbearers of the 2026 Maccabiah Torch were announced, chosen to represent the resilience, achievements, and mutual
commitment of Israeli society and the Jewish people
Avitar Zeitouni, a disabled IDF soldier and former Paratrooper Brigade officer, who was seriously wounded in the fighting to defend Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7, was chosen to carry the torch as a symbol of rehabilitation, heroism, and the healing power of sport. His selection was made in collaboration with the IDF Disabled Persons Organization and brings to the forefront the stories of those wounded who choose to rise, recover, and move forward with strength, determination, and faith. Menashe Zelka and Sharan Yeini, two captains distinguished by their leadership, responsibility, and personal example, will carry the torch as representatives of Israeli football. Ofir Shaham, a member of the Israeli artistic gymnastics team and silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will carry the torch on behalf of a generation of Israeli athletes who have set an example for the world. The event will demonstrate that team excellence is a national strength.
The torchbearers will hand it to Asaf Yasur and Inbar Lanir, who together will light the Maccabiah torch as a symbol of the triumph of the spirit and an extraordinary sporting achievement. Yasur, a Paralympic taekwondo champion and gold medalist at Paris 2024, has become one of the symbols of Israeli sport's determination; Lanir, a world judo champion and silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, continues her preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, bringing to the Maccabiah a spirit of excellence, perseverance, and constant improvement.
About the 2026 Maccabiah: The sporting celebration will take place in Israel from July 1 to 14, in an event that will bring together thousands of athletes, families, and sports fans from around the world. Under the motto "More Than Ever," the Maccabiah expresses strength and hope, as well as the renewed connection between Israel and the global Jewish community. This connection is more meaningful than ever. The Maccabiah 2026 will host athletes from dozens of countries competing in more than 30 sports. Key partners behind the Maccabiah's success include the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Japanese Football Federation (JNF), whose support will make it possible to celebrate a historic day in the Tekoma region, "The Maccabiah and the JNF Unite." This event will feature sporting activities and community volunteering, and will also include additional sponsorships from Colgate, Toto, Eldan, Reebok, Elal, Neviot, Mifal HaPais, the Olympic Committee, and Bank Leumi.
Photos Silvia G. Golan
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On May 13, 2026, President Isaac Herzog convened the President’s Conference for a Shared Israeli Future at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The conference featured speakers, panels, and dialogue forums that addressed President Herzog’s vision for rebuilding Israeli society and moving from crisis to repair ahead of Israel’s 80th anniversary.
The conference opened with an address by President Herzog, followed by remarks from Becky Caspi, Director-General of the Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel office, a partner of the conference. The program also featured a special conversation between the First Lady Michal Herzog and the actress Gal Gadot.
During the conference, President Herzog addressed the issue of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s pardon request:
“It is important for me to explain why I am calling for dialogue toward an agreement and why I am calling for discussions toward a settlement. I truly believe that on these weighty issues, which tear the heart of Israeli society and divide it, the right path is to reach understandings and agreements wherever possible. I believe in understandings and agreements. And in this case too, it is difficult for everyone. Certainly for the parties involved, it is enormously difficult. But once one side has said it is willing to come to the room, I also expect the other side to come to the room too.”
Addressing the rise of antisemitism faced by Jewish communities around the world, President Herzog said:
“We must also remember that we have brothers and sisters across the ocean, the Jewish people, who are going through a hell of unimaginable antisemitism, who look to us with worry and anxiety and want us to be an anchor of stability and responsibility. They want to hear us, and they want to know they have our backing.”
President Herzog also addressed the broader need to lower tensions within Israeli society and strengthen internal dialogue:
“When there are fuel fumes in the air and we are entering elections, the answer is here in this tremendous movement of ‘Time to Talk.’ A movement that comes and says: I am coming to talk to you. I want to hear your pain. I want to understand that there is a tremendous social evolution in Israeli society.”
In her address to the conference, Becky Caspi, Director General of the JFNA Israel Office said:
“Israel’s shared future will not only be built in Jerusalem, Sderot, or Kiryat Shmona, but alongside Jewish communities in New York, Toronto, Miami, and Los Angeles. The partnership between Israel and North American Jewry is a strategic asset that goes far beyond economic support. It is a relationship that bolsters our resilience, our common values, and our shared future. In the coming years, Jewish Federations will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel — in recovery, in growth, and in strengthening the bonds with Jewish communities in the United States and Canada.”
In conversation with the First Lady Michal Herzog, Gal Gadot said:
“It’s become very complicated to be an Israeli in the world today. Especially after everything we’ve been through since the war, and because of the media and social networks, which are a problem in their own right. I feel anger, sometimes I feel fear, and there’s also great frustration at seeing how quickly people judge and form opinions. I wish they would amplify the voices in this room and this conference to the world, so they could see what Israel really is.”
Photos Silvia G. Golan
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The opening event of the year of the Circle of Friends of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation for 2026, directed by Yona Bartel, was held at the impressive Microsoft campus in Herzliya Pituach, Israel.
Together with Hemi Peres, the center's chairman, Campus CEO Michal Bauman opened with a dazzling overview before Eran Yariv, head of artificial intelligence, Adi Mor-Biran, Director of The Garage Israel, Middle East, Africa and India, revealed groundbreaking innovation underway.
The Circle of Friends took a tour of the amazing building and learned about the latest developments in the field of AI. Among the participants: the Padani family, Michal Forer, Galia Albin, the Oren family, Reuven and Michaela Schiff, Brigadier General Nissim Barda, Baruch Shekalim–Director of the Aerospace Industry, Dalia Neeman, Dana Margalit, Hedva Tzadikariou and more. Yona Bartel reminded the audience that this year marks the tenth anniversary of Peres' passing and that it will be full of special events, including the naming of a square in his name in Paris, with the main state event being on September 8th in the Greatest of the Nations section of the House of Lords in London. The visit was at the Microsoft Israel Research and Development campus in Herzliya.
Michal Braverman-Blumenstik, CEO of Microsoft Israel R&D and CTO of the Global Security Division gave a lecture titled: “The Next Generation of AI: What Will Collaboration Between Humans and AI Agents Look Like?” She also presented Microsoft's Innovation Leadership Model to the Friends of the Peace Prize Circle. During the talk, she said: “Innovation is not a one-time event, but a culture. In the age of AI, when we give people the space to experiment, the smart tools, and the trust to dare – we don’t just develop products, we shape the future.”
Eran Yariv, Director of the Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Group at Microsoft Israel, also gave a special lecture on the history of artificial intelligence from its inception 70 years ago and the evolution of large language models: from automatic completion to deep thinking
The Microsoft Herzliya, Israel, building is the only dog-friendly Microsoft building in the world; it also has a swimming pool and an ecological garden
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Operation “Roaring Lion”:
18 European Ambassadors to Israel visit Magen David Adom headquarters for briefing on the organization’s preparedness and advanced technological systems
Eighteen European ambassadors to Israel visited the Magen David Adom headquarters at MDA’s campus in Ramla today (Monday). During the visit, the ambassadors received a briefing on the organization’s activities, its preparedness for Operation “Roaring Lion,” and the medical response provided by MDA teams across the country since the beginning of the hostilities.
During the visit, the ambassadors were presented with the preparations carried out by MDA in recent years to cope with complex emergency situations, including large-scale drills, strengthening the organization’s command and control systems, and deepening cooperation with all emergency and health agencies, including the Home Front Command, Israel Police, and the Ministry of Health. As part of this preparedness, emphasis was placed on training teams to respond to complex scenes and on the ability to manage multiple incidents simultaneously with full coordination between all agencies. The ambassadors also received a review of MDA teams’ activities since the start of the operation and the treatment provided to casualties at various scenes throughout Israel.
During the briefing, MDA’s advanced technological capabilities for real-time incident management were presented. Among others, systems for analyzing operational data that assist emergency dispatchers at the 101 call center in making rapid decisions were demonstrated, as well as technological systems that enable MDA to shorten response times in the event of a missile impact.
Belgian Ambassador to Israel, Stefaan Thijs: “What we saw here is extremely impressive. Beyond the systems and the technology, what stands out most are the people - your teams, who operate with dedication, speed, and care, under pressure, always with one clear goal: to save lives. Another thing that stands out very clearly here is coexistence in practice. Within Magen David Adom, and in the broader Israeli healthcare system, people work side by side, from all communities, backgrounds, and identities, with professionalism, mutual respect, and a shared mission. This is not an abstract concept; it is something that exists and is experienced every single day.”
MDA Director General, Eli Bin: “I welcome the European ambassadors who came here today to visit the Magen David Adom headquarters and for their interest in the organization’s activities during this complex period. MDA teams are operating around the clock, providing life-saving medical response at various scenes across the country. Alongside operational activity, we continue to analyze incidents in real time, improve our methods, and develop advanced technological capabilities that help us quickly identify scenes, manage multiple incidents simultaneously, and provide the fastest and best possible medical response to every citizen in need.”
Photo credit MDA Spokesperson
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International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) is Israel's flagship Tourism marketplace and one of the leading exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It galvanizes the Israeli Tourism industry and consolidates it under one single roof connecting global destinations with one of the world's most travel savvy markets. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - an event not to be missed!
IMTIM is the largest tourism exhibition in the Middle East and this year will feature impressive pavilions, B2B meetings, professional conferences and an agent programme that will bring hundreds of decision makers from around the globe to Israel.
After two complex years in Israel, the tourism industry is marking a historic turning point namely the significant presence of global airlines and a huge jump compared to last year especially in the number of visitors and exhibitors from abroad making IMTM 2026 the largest and most significant event since the start of the last war on the 7th of October 2023. This year will mark the 32nd year since its inception and will open on Tuesday, the 3rd of February till the 4th of February 2026 at the EXPO in Tel Aviv. Despite the challenges war confronts the tourism industry with, this year's exhibition is presenting a large presence of countries, participants and senior officials from around the world as part of their willingness to create business with Israel.
Popular airlines such as Etihad which is Abu Dhabi's national airline, Aegean Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines will participate. Budget airlines such as Sky Express and Air Europa will also have representation. Countries including Greece, Georgia, The People's Republic of China , Canada, U.S.A., India, The Republic of China, Vietnam, Slovakia, Hungary, Zambia, Cyprus, Romania and Azerbaijan secured their places months before the official registration opened. A variety of Israeli airlines such as EL AL, Israir, Arkia alongside local authorities and municipalities such as Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Rosh Hanikra, Ashdod, Modi'in, Maccabim, Reut, Jerusalem, Zichron Yaakov, Petach Tikva, Pardes Hanna Binyamina, the Dead Sea, Netanya.
This year there was a high demand in visitor registration in the field of pilgrimage tourism which very much is expected to shape the industry in the forthcoming year, marking the recovery and growth of local and international markets. Mr. Eyal Shmueli, I.T.N. 's publisher stated that Israel is enjoying an increase in the participation of countries in this year's expo which is a milestone in Israel's return to international tourism after a challenging period without inbound tourism and airlines that cancelled flights. We are entering renewed growth as IMTM is a bridge for tourism between Israel and the world.
About IMTM
IMTM is Israel’s flagship tourism marketplace and one of the leading international tourism exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It brings the industry together under one roof and connects global destinations with one of the world’s most travel-savvy audiences. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - the one event not to be missed.
IMTM is Israel’s flagship tourism marketplace and one of the leading international tourism exhibitions in the Eastern Mediterranean. It brings the industry together under one roof and connects global destinations with one of the world’s most travel-savvy audiences. IMTM is where the Israeli market meets the world - the one event not to be missed.
