Veteran Israeli Journalist Oren Nahari Dies at 70 After Battling ALS

Oren Nahari, a veteran Israeli journalist renowned for his foreign news coverage, passed away at the age of 70 after suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nahari revealed his diagnosis about six months ago and had been publicly sharing updates on his rapidly deteriorating condition. He bid farewell to his radio audience last weekend during his final broadcast, explaining that the disease had severely affected his respiratory, swallowing, and speech functions, preventing him from continuing his work.

Nahari began his career in the late 1970s as a sports reporter on Channel One and transitioned to the foreign news desk in 1985, eventually becoming the foreign news editor. He founded the long-running program "Roim Olam" (Seeing the World) and was known for his dedication to bringing international events to Israeli audiences with depth and clarity. Throughout his career, he also wrote opinion columns, commentaries, and authored books.

In his last radio show, Nahari reflected on his journalistic journey, emphasizing his commitment to telling important stories from around the world in an engaging way. He expressed gratitude to his listeners and lamented that he could not complete his planned historical series due to his illness. The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation mourned his passing, calling him a symbol of public broadcasting and praising his journalistic mission.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and opposition leader Yair Lapid both paid tribute to Nahari. Herzog highlighted Nahari's rare talent and his role in opening a window to the wider world for Israelis, while Lapid remembered him as a voice of culture, sanity, and intellectual curiosity in an era of fast media. Nahari's legacy includes decades of reporting on major global events, from South Africa's democratic elections to the Rwandan genocide and the September 11 attacks.

Nahari is survived by his family and leaves behind a rich journalistic and cultural heritage that will be deeply missed by colleagues and audiences alike.