Kikar HaShabbat Lists Top 30 Most Viewed Articles of the Year

The Israeli news site Kikar HaShabbat has released its list of the 30 most-viewed articles from the past Hebrew year, 5786. The list, compiled from tens of thousands of articles and hundreds of thousands of daily users, reflects a wide range of topics that captured public attention.

Among the top stories were significant security and military developments, including reports on Turkish and Italian advancements in drone swarm technology, the accelerated development of advanced missile systems by European powers, and the arrival of upgraded Abrams tanks. The list also featured articles on international military deployments, such as U.S. Abrams tanks in the Middle East and Egyptian drone advancements. Security concerns were further highlighted by reports on Hezbollah's involvement in rocket fire from Lebanon and a naval flotilla heading towards Israel aiming to break the Gaza blockade.

Beyond security, the digest included articles on technological breakthroughs and trends, such as Elon Musk's declaration of humanity entering the 'singularity' era and a UCLA graduate's use of AI for coursework, which led to his degree being revoked. Scientific discoveries also made the cut, including an autonomous submarine's findings in Antarctica and Japan's discovery of vast underwater resources.

Human interest stories and cultural topics were also prominent. These included the passing of IDF officer Eitan Yisrael Kantman, a report on the oldest living man in Brazil, and a piece about a singer's return to religious observance. Culinary tips, such as a unique lettuce salad recipe and methods for preparing shiny chocolate and pudding cake, also garnered significant readership. The list also touched upon political matters, including a letter from Yitzhak Rabin to Benjamin Netanyahu before Rabin's assassination and a controversy surrounding an individual impersonating the Chief Rabbi.

Notable events covered included a large rally for Torah scholars in Jerusalem, the release of 20 hostages from captivity, and a viral cleaning tip for removing mold from silicone. The year's most-viewed article was a report on Japan's discovery of underwater resources, potentially securing technological independence for centuries.