Veteran Israeli Journalist Oren Nahari Dies at 70 After Battling ALS

Oren Nahari, a prominent Israeli journalist, passed away at the age of 70 after a prolonged struggle with ALS. His family announced his death, marking the end of a distinguished career that spanned decades and included coverage of major historical events such as the 9/11 attacks, the Rwandan genocide, and the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Nahari interviewed numerous global leaders, including Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, and George Bush.

Nahari began his career in sports journalism before moving to foreign news reporting in 1985. He was a founding member of the program "Ro'im Olam" in 1988 and served as the foreign news editor for Channel One starting in 1993. He also helped establish the show "Globus," hosted "Mehayom Lemachar," and between 2007 and 2013 presented "HaSha'a HaBeinleumit" on Reshet Bet. He authored six books and received the Smolar Joint Prize in 2013 for his extensive journalistic contributions.

His final broadcast was just days before his death, on August 8, 2026, when he aired his regular program "Shabbat with Oren Nahari" on Kan Reshet Bet. In his farewell tweet, he explained that due to his health, the show would end and shared reflections on global political and scientific topics, as well as personal touches including favorite songs. Despite his severe physical decline, with 95% paralysis and communication limited to eye movements, Nahari expressed that he feared the process of dying more than death itself.

Nahari's passing is mourned across the Israeli media landscape, recognizing his impactful reporting and dedication to journalism even in the face of debilitating illness.