Israel Nears Daylight Saving Time Change Amid Global Debate

As Israel prepares to shift to standard time, bringing earlier sunsets, the necessity of the practice is being questioned. Many countries globally, including popular tourist destinations, have opted out of the biannual time change. Iceland, for instance, does not adjust its clocks due to extreme variations in daylight between summer and winter, making a one-hour shift less impactful.

The European Union has extensively debated abolishing daylight saving time. In 2018, the European Commission conducted a public consultation where approximately 84% of the 4.6 million respondents favored ending the practice. The Commission proposed allowing member states to permanently adopt either standard or daylight saving time starting in 2019, but required coordination to prevent economic disruption. However, this proposal was never finalized, and EU countries continue to switch clocks.

Beyond Europe, numerous countries, particularly in Asia, do not observe daylight saving time. Travelers to the Middle East and most of South America will find that clocks remain constant year-round, largely due to their proximity to the equator. In Australia, the observance of daylight saving time varies by state and territory, meaning there is no uniform policy across the continent.