Haolam Hazeh
Encyclopedia
HaOlam HaZeh was a weekly news magazine published in Israel
until 1993.
The magazine was founded in 1937 under the name Tesha BaErev (Hebrew: תשע בערב, Nine in the Evening) but was renamed HaOlam HaZeh in 1946. In 1950 it was bought by Uri Avnery
, Shalom Cohen
, and two others who soon withdrew.
Under Avnery's leadership, the magazine became famous for its highly unorthodox and irreverent style. Its news focussed on investigative reports, often presented in sensationalist fashion, which provoked anger from the Israeli establishment and disdain from Israel's mainstream press. Government ministers regularly called for it to be shut down, especially when it had exposed (or claimed to expose) some government scandal. For a few years, the government even secretly financed a rival magazine Rimon in a failed attempt to counter HaOlam HaZeh's popularity. Sometimes mainstream publications leaked stories that they felt unable to publish themselves to HaOlam HaZeh. Jacob Shavit writes that "from 1957 on, Ha-Olam ha-Zeh became the main forum" for advocacy of a Palestinian state.
Starting in 1959, the magazine had a "two cover" design, with the front cover presenting serious journalism and the back cover presenting sensational articles of a gossipy or sexual nature, sometimes displaying naked women.
Stories in which HaOlam HaZeh's reporting played an important part included the massacre at Qibya
(after which Avnery and Cohen were allegedly beaten up by members of the IDF unit that had conducted the raid), the Kasztner libel trial, the Kafr Qasim massacre
, and Ben Dunkelman
's story about the aborted attempt to expel the inhabitants of Nazareth
(in HaOlam HaZeh July 1980). In 1984 it was the first to publish one of the pictures of a prisoner being taken from Bus 300
disproving army statements that all the hijackers had died when the bus was stormed.
In the mid-1960s the papers owners, Avnery and Cohen entered politics, founding a new party, which they named after the paper: HaOlam HaZeh – Koah Hadash
. Avnery was elected to the Knesset in the 1965 election
and Cohen joined him when the party picked up another seat in the 1969 election
. However, Cohen left the party in 1972 and the following year Avnery renamed it Meri.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
until 1993.
The magazine was founded in 1937 under the name Tesha BaErev (Hebrew: תשע בערב, Nine in the Evening) but was renamed HaOlam HaZeh in 1946. In 1950 it was bought by Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery
Uri Avnery is an Israeli writer and founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement.A member of the Irgun as a teenager, Avnery sat in the Knesset from 1965–74 and 1979–81...
, Shalom Cohen
Shalom Cohen (politician)
Shalom Cohen was an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1969 and 1974.-Biography:Born in Baghdad in Iraq, Cohen's family moved to Egypt when he was six years old. He attended an English college in Alexandria, where he was one of the founders of the local Hashomer...
, and two others who soon withdrew.
Under Avnery's leadership, the magazine became famous for its highly unorthodox and irreverent style. Its news focussed on investigative reports, often presented in sensationalist fashion, which provoked anger from the Israeli establishment and disdain from Israel's mainstream press. Government ministers regularly called for it to be shut down, especially when it had exposed (or claimed to expose) some government scandal. For a few years, the government even secretly financed a rival magazine Rimon in a failed attempt to counter HaOlam HaZeh's popularity. Sometimes mainstream publications leaked stories that they felt unable to publish themselves to HaOlam HaZeh. Jacob Shavit writes that "from 1957 on, Ha-Olam ha-Zeh became the main forum" for advocacy of a Palestinian state.
Starting in 1959, the magazine had a "two cover" design, with the front cover presenting serious journalism and the back cover presenting sensational articles of a gossipy or sexual nature, sometimes displaying naked women.
Stories in which HaOlam HaZeh's reporting played an important part included the massacre at Qibya
Qibya massacre
The Qibya massacre, also known as the Qibya incident, occurred in October 1953 when Israeli troops under Ariel Sharon attacked the village of Qibya in the West Bank. Sixty-nine Palestinian Arabs, two thirds of them women and children were killed. Forty-five houses, a school, and a mosque were...
(after which Avnery and Cohen were allegedly beaten up by members of the IDF unit that had conducted the raid), the Kasztner libel trial, the Kafr Qasim massacre
Kafr Qasim massacre
The Kafr Qasim massacre took place in the Israeli Arab village of Kafr Qasim situated on the Green Line, at that time, the de facto border between Israel and the West Bank on October 29, 1956. It was carried out by the Israel Border Police and resulted in 48 Arab civilians dead, including 6 women...
, and Ben Dunkelman
Ben Dunkelman
Benjamin Dunkelman was a Canadian Jewish officer who served in the Canadian Army in World War II and the Israel Defense Forces in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. In Israel, he was called Benjamin Ben-David....
's story about the aborted attempt to expel the inhabitants of Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
(in HaOlam HaZeh July 1980). In 1984 it was the first to publish one of the pictures of a prisoner being taken from Bus 300
Kav 300 affair
The Bus 300 affair , also known as Kav 300 affair, was an affair in which Shin Bet members executed two Palestinian bus hijackers, immediately after the hostage crises incident ended and the two militants were captured....
disproving army statements that all the hijackers had died when the bus was stormed.
In the mid-1960s the papers owners, Avnery and Cohen entered politics, founding a new party, which they named after the paper: HaOlam HaZeh – Koah Hadash
Meri (political party)
Meri , lit. Israeli Radical Camp) was a small radical left-wing political party in Israel. It was founded in the 1960s as HaOlam HaZeh – Koah Hadash by Uri Avnery, editor of HaOlam HaZeh.-History:...
. Avnery was elected to the Knesset in the 1965 election
Israeli legislative election, 1965
Elections for the sixth Knesset were held in Israel on 1 November 1965. Voter turnout was 85.9%.-Background:Prior to the elections, two major alliances were formed; Mapai and Ahdut HaAvoda united to form the Alignment, whilst Herut and the Liberal Party had formed the Gahal alliance towards the end...
and Cohen joined him when the party picked up another seat in the 1969 election
Israeli legislative election, 1969
Elections for the seventh Knesset were held in Israel on 28 October 1969. Voter turnout was 81.7%.-Results:¹ Meir Avizohar defected from the National List to the Alignment² Avner Shaki left the National Religious Party and remained a single MK...
. However, Cohen left the party in 1972 and the following year Avnery renamed it Meri.