Veteran Israeli Foreign Affairs Journalist Oren Nahari Dies at 70 After ALS Battle

Oren Nahari, a prominent Israeli journalist, editor, and broadcaster known for his international news coverage, passed away at the age of 70 after battling ALS. Nahari revealed his struggle with the disease in March 2026 and died on the night of Thursday, August 3, 2026. Born in Haifa in 1955, Nahari served in the IDF Intelligence Corps before studying political science and international relations at the Hebrew University. He began his media career at the Israel Broadcasting Authority, initially in sports, then moving to foreign news in 1985 under Yair Stern's leadership.

Nahari was a founding member of the foreign affairs magazine "Ro'im Olam" in 1988 and co-founded the economic-international program "Globus" in 2000 with David Weitzum. He also contributed to the late-night show "Mehayom Lemachar" and numerous special broadcasts. Throughout his career, Nahari covered major global events such as South Africa's first democratic elections, the Rwandan genocide, the Kosovo war, and the September 11 attacks. He interviewed key figures including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Václav Havel, and George Bush.

After the closure of the Israel Broadcasting Authority in 2016, Nahari joined Walla! as a foreign news commentator. In May 2023, he returned to public broadcasting with the program "Shabbat with Oren Nahari" on Kan News and Reshet Bet, focusing on historical events. In July 2026, he launched the podcast "The American Experiment" with Eran Sikurel to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Nahari presented his final program in early August 2026.

In addition to journalism, Nahari authored and edited best-selling books on history and general knowledge and was a sought-after lecturer. He received the Smolar Joint Prize in 2013 for his long-standing journalistic work and a lifetime achievement award from the B'nai B'rith Center for Excellence in June 2026. Nahari lived in Ramat Gan, was married to poet and poetry researcher Vered Ariel-Nahari, and is survived by four children and two grandchildren.