Ofakim
Israeli-media coverage mentioning Ofakim, translated into English and compared across sources. 32 recent stories.
Exclusive records show Nova Festival files deleted from police systems
Screenshots obtained by Kan News show that many Nova festival licensing files were deleted from Israeli police computer systems, mainly in January 2024. The deleted material inclu…
Southern Democratic candidate says the Negev needs partnership, not scapegoating
Avi Dabush toured the Negev with three fellow Democratic Party primary candidates and argued that the region needs partnership with Bedouins, not collective blame. He backed stron…
Hundreds of Bedouin Protest in Beersheba After Ben Gvir Vows More Home Demolitions
Hundreds of Bedouin protesters demonstrated in Beersheba on Thursday against home demolitions in the Negev. The rally followed remarks by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvi…
Fauda Actor Says 7 October Role Took an Emotional Toll Amid Threats and Praise
Raed Azer says playing a Nukhba terrorist in Fauda’s 7 October episodes was one of his hardest roles. He described trauma from the October 7 attacks, threats and accusations he ha…
Parents Spend Heavily to Boost Children’s Chances of Being Identified as Gifted
Israeli parents are increasingly paying for gifted-test preparation, hoping to improve their children’s chances of entering selective programs. The Education Ministry warns this m…
Netivot Police Negotiator Helps End Armed Suicide Threat Safely
A suicidal-ideation incident in Netivot ended without injuries after police negotiators persuaded a security guard to surrender his weapon. The man, who was alone with his wife an…
Ofakim Rebuilds After October 7, With New Growth and a New Identity
Ofakim is rebuilding after the October 7 attack, when 48 residents were killed and residents fought back against terrorists. Mayor Itzik Danino says the city is now growing rapidl…
Negev Police Commander Returns Fallen Officer’s Personal Weapon to His Widow
Negev District Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Klein visited the family of Chief Superintendent Itamar Alos in Ofakim on Monday night and returned Alos’s personal weapon to his widow an…
21-Year-Old Injured After Falling Into Pit While Working in Ofakim
A 21-year-old worker was moderately injured in Ofakim after falling into a pit. Magen David Adom evacuated him to Soroka Medical Center after treating him for injuries.
Worker Moderately Injured After Falling Into Trench at Or Akiva Construction Site
A 25-year-old construction worker was moderately injured after falling into a trench at a construction site in Ofakim. United Hatzalah treated him at the scene before evacuating h…
Naftali Bennett vows a sweeping overhaul of state institutions, food prices and education
Naftali Bennett said in Ofakim that the last government damaged key state systems and that his party would rebuild them. He outlined plans to overhaul education, break food cartel…
At the Edri family home in Ofakim, police surprise Aviatar Edri with promotion
Aviatar Edri was surprised with a promotion at his family home in Ofakim, the same house where his parents were held hostage on October 7. Senior Southern District police official…
Five-Bedroom Villa on 570-Square-Meter Lot Sold in Ofakim for NIS 2.33 Million
Re/Max reported recent home sales across Israel, including apartments in Ashdod, Acre, Hadera, Bat Yam and Beersheba. The standout deal was a five-room villa in Ofakim on a 570-sq…
D.S. Magurei Israel Launches Real-Time Buyer Portal for Greater Transparency
D.S. Magurei Israel launched a new buyer portal that provides real-time transparency on payments, documents, and construction progress. The company says the system is meant to red…
Aviel Cohen Expected Free Before Shabbat as Credit Battle Erupts Over Release
Aviel Cohen, a yeshiva student from Netivot jailed for draft evasion, is expected to be released before Shabbat after receiving a 14-day military prison sentence this week. His ar…
Police Split Over October 7 Nova Festival Response as Internal Inquiry Surfaces
Israeli police inquiries into the October 7 Nova festival massacre are being revealed nearly three years later. The main dispute is over the emergency declaration "Parash Pleshet"…
Hundreds of Yeshiva Students Rally Outside Military Prison After Abarich Arrest
Hundreds of Be'er BaTalmud yeshiva students protested outside Military Prison 10 on Thursday over the arrest of Aviel Cohen, who was detained earlier in the week in southern Israe…
Police Detain Suspects After More Than a Ton of Watermelons Is Taken Near Nahal Oz
Border Police in southern Israel detained several suspects on Wednesday after officers found them loading more than a ton of watermelons from farmland near Nahal Oz. The landowner…
Building Permits Hit Record High as Tel Aviv Tops Housing Starts
CBS data show record Israeli building permits and sustained housing starts from April 2025 to March 2026. Tel Aviv-Yafo led cities in new starts, while Jerusalem fell sharply and…
New Haredi Neighborhood in Ofakim Promises Private Homes, Community Services and Rail Access
A new Haredi neighborhood called Nachlat Kedem is being promoted in Ofakim with private homes, community institutions and strong transport links. The project says prices start at…
Hiding the Smartphone: The Cost of Mixed Messages Between Home and School
An Israeli Orthodox opinion column warns that parents and schools harm children when they hide modern reality and present false public images. It argues that denial about technolo…
Haredi leaders plan unprecedented protest over draft arrests
Senior Degel HaTorah figures are planning a massive Haredi protest against draft enforcement, likely in the coming days. Earlier Monday, hundreds blocked a road near Ofakim after…
19 religious pre-army academy heads say students will not serve in mixed-gender units
Nineteen heads of religious pre-army academies said they will not send students to mixed-gender units, joining a broader protest over female integration in combat roles. The IDF s…
Mother of detained yeshiva student pleads for his release on live radio
Aviel Cohen, a 22-year-old yeshiva student from Netivot, was arrested near Ofakim on suspicion of draft evasion and moved to military police custody. His mother, Odelia Cohen, ple…
Massive Welcome in Ofakim for Haredi Prisoner Released from Military Jail
Ofakim held a mass welcome on Friday for Rabbi Tzuriel Tzadok after his release from military prison. The celebration featured a limousine, a large motorcade, thousands of partici…
17 indicted after protest mob stormed military police chief’s home
Israeli prosecutors indicted 17 people, including four minors, for storming the home of Military Police Chief Yuval Yamin during an ultra-Orthodox protest near Ashkelon. Police al…
South Israel Protest After Military Police Arrest of 22-Year-Old Yeshiva Student
Military police arrested 22-year-old yeshiva student Aviel Cohen at the Gilat gas station near Ofakim on suspicion of draft evasion. Dozens of Haredi protesters then blocked the j…
37-Year-Old Woman Hurt After Falling Into Empty Pool in Ofakim
A 37-year-old woman was moderately injured after falling into an empty pool at a home in Ofakim. Magen David Adom evacuated her to Soroka Medical Center with head and back injurie…
Tel Aviv Man Indicted After Selling Drugs to Undercover Officer
A 50-year-old Tel Aviv man was indicted Sunday on 17 counts over alleged drug trafficking across southern Israel. Police say he sold cannabis to an undercover officer and was late…
Naama Lazimi says Netanyahu could trigger war to delay elections
MK Naama Lazimi says Netanyahu could try to use war to delay elections and must be blocked with a 65-seat anti-Netanyahu majority. She calls for a state inquiry, constitutional sa…
Rabbi Shahar Butzach to Channel 7, 'Society Must Fight for the Wounded'
Rabbi Shahar Butzach, wounded in the fighting in Ofakim on October 7, said in a Channel 7 interview that he has dedicated himself to helping wounded security forces personnel and…
This Is the Hardest City to Pass a Driving Test In, Nearly 332,000 Failed in 2025
Nearly 332,000 people failed Israel’s driving test in 2025, as the national pass rate fell to 31.9%, a six-year low. The hardest testing sites were Jerusalem, Netanya, Petah Tikva…
