Israeli-media coverage mentioning WhatsApp, translated into English and compared across sources. 48 recent stories.
Historian Sparks Controversy Claiming Assassination Attempt on Rabbi Kook in 1927
Rabbi Dr. Sefi Goldschler sparked controversy by claiming a 1927 assassination attempt on Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, based on rumors and late testimonies. Historians and scholars d…
21-Year-Old Adell Horowitz Builds Leading Digital Matchmaking Empire in Religious Sector
Adell Horowitz, 21, and her mother Ilanit have built a digital matchmaking platform that has led to 150 marriages in Israel's religious community in under two years. Starting from…
WhatsApp Introduces Stronger Password Option for Two-Step Verification
WhatsApp is enhancing account security by replacing the six-digit two-step verification PIN with a stronger alphanumeric password, gradually rolling out to Android and iPhone user…
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Feature Allowing Channel Admins to Display Dedicated Profiles
WhatsApp is introducing a feature for channel admins to create separate profiles shown with their updates, enhancing transparency while protecting personal information. The featur…
WhatsApp Develops In-App Payment Feature for iPhone Users with Global Expansion Plans
WhatsApp is developing a new in-app payments feature for iPhone users that allows direct money transfers and credit card management. The service, currently limited to a few countr…
Netanyahu Shares Personal Phone Number, Overwhelms Device with Calls and Messages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared his personal phone number in a viral video on August 23, 2026, inviting public contact. The overwhelming response crashed his phone's What…
Thousands Flood Netanyahu's WhatsApp After His Personal Number Is Published
After Benjamin Netanyahu shared his personal phone number, his WhatsApp was overwhelmed by thousands of messages, causing a temporary service outage that his team is working to fi…
Judicial Complaints Against Tel Aviv District Court Judge Found Justified but No Disciplinary Action Recommended
The Commissioner for Complaints Against Judges found complaints against Tel Aviv District Court Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen justified due to her active participation in a politically…
Yossi Abdo Presents Weekly Satirical News Highlighting Israeli Political and Social Issues
Yossi Abdo's weekly satirical news show covered Israeli political dynamics, including Haredi influence in Likud, Tali Gottlieb's political challenges, and cultural commentary, inv…
WhatsApp Launches AI Tool to Combat Spam and Phishing Messages
WhatsApp rolled out an AI-powered feature on August 20, 2026, to detect and warn users about spam and phishing messages, aiming to improve phone security.
Google's Android Notification History Feature Helps Users Manage Alerts Without Missing Important Messages
Google's Android Notification History feature lets users review all alerts from the past 24 hours, helping them avoid missing important messages while keeping their phones quiet…
Israeli Teachers Union Chair Limits Parent Contact Via WhatsApp and Phone
Yaffa Ben-David, head of the Israeli Teachers Union, has restricted parents from using WhatsApp and phone calls to contact teachers, advocating for email communication to protect…
WhatsApp Develops AI Tool to Automatically Expand Photos for Vertical 9:16 Format
WhatsApp is creating an AI-powered tool to automatically expand photos to a vertical 9:16 format, enhancing images for status updates and chats without cropping or distortion. The…
UK Green Party Faces Antisemitism Scandal Over Calls to Kill Zionists
Leaked WhatsApp messages from UK Green Party activists reveal antisemitic discussions including calls to kill Zionists and praise for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, sparking condemn…
National Hotline Reveals Over 40 Daily Online Child Abuse Cases Ahead of School Year
Israel's National Hotline 105 reports over 40 daily cases of online child abuse, mainly peer-related, with TikTok and WhatsApp as key platforms. Most victims are aged 12-16, and e…
Bank Leumi Sues Meta for NIS 26.6 Million Over Phishing Ads Impersonating the Bank
Bank Leumi is suing Meta for NIS 26.6 million, accusing it of enabling phishing ads impersonating the bank on its platforms that led to customer fraud and financial losses. The ba…
C14 Users Predict Top 10 Candidates in Likud Primaries Ahead of Official Results
Following the close of Likud's primary voting, C14 WhatsApp users conducted a poll predicting Tali Gottlieb as the leading candidate, with Almog Cohen and Amichai Shikli trailing…
Religious Zionism Leads Among New Small Parties in C14 WhatsApp Poll
A C14 WhatsApp poll shows Religious Zionism leading among small Israeli parties, with 63.5% voter intention support, ahead of others like Identity and the Economic Party. Nearly h…
Israeli Judicial Watchdog Urges Sensitivity After Judge Cites Children's Book in Ruling
The Israeli Public Complaints Commission for Judges addressed three cases involving judicial sensitivity, remote witness testimony via WhatsApp, and proper documentation of settle…
WhatsApp Rolls Out Media Previews in Chat List to Enhance User Experience
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature showing thumbnail previews of images, videos, and stickers directly in the chat list on Android beta. This update helps users quickly identif…
WhatsApp Introduces Username Field to Contacts for Enhanced Privacy and Status Control
WhatsApp is gradually introducing a username field in contact creation to allow users to save contacts by username, enhancing privacy and integrating with status updates. This fea…
Iranian Intelligence Increases Phishing Attacks Targeting Israeli Journalists via WhatsApp and Telegram
Israeli security agencies have uncovered increased phishing attacks by Iranian intelligence targeting Israeli journalists via WhatsApp and Telegram to steal sensitive information…
Internal Likud Debates Emerge Over Leadership After Netanyahu Amidst Party Tensions
Internal Likud WhatsApp chats reveal calls for new leadership to challenge Netanyahu after October 7 attacks, exposing party divisions. Former MK Hagai Stern and others advocate f…
Meta Launches AI-Powered Scam Alert to Detect WhatsApp Fraud Attempts
Meta has launched Scam Alert, an AI-based feature on WhatsApp that detects and warns users of potential scam messages in real time, operating locally on devices to protect privacy…
Singer Shimon Buskila Investigated for Alleged Threats Against Ex-Partner
Singer Shimon Buskila was questioned over alleged WhatsApp threats to his ex-partner but was released after investigators found no evidence of threats.
Singer Denies Threatening Ex-Partner in WhatsApp Messages Amid Investigation
A singer is being investigated for allegedly threatening his ex-partner via WhatsApp, but he denies the accusations during questioning.
Israeli Restaurateur David Tour Nears Major Pizza Chain Deal Valued at 120 Million Shekels
Israeli restaurateur David Tour is close to selling half of his pizza chain Pizza Har Sinai for 60 million shekels, valuing it at 120 million shekels. The chain has three branches…
WhatsApp Adds Notification Feature for Pinned Messages on iOS
WhatsApp has launched a new iOS feature that notifies users of pinned messages directly through notifications, improving message visibility without opening chats.
Court Allows Use of Deceased’s WhatsApp Messages by Heirs, Urges Clear Will Instructions
An Israeli court ruled that heirs can access a deceased person's WhatsApp messages stored on their phone, allowing the son to use these messages in a lawsuit against the widower…
WhatsApp Adds Username Field to Contact Creation Screen for Expanded User ID Use
WhatsApp is introducing a username field in contact creation to expand username use, currently in gradual rollout. Users can reserve usernames and control contact permissions, whi…
Student Union Funding for Election Campaigns Curtailed Amid Transparency Demands
Israeli student representatives blocked a proposal to allocate millions of shekels from student funds for election campaigning, approving only 400,000 shekels with transparency co…
Israeli Police Arrest Man for Threatening Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan Police Chief on WhatsApp
Israeli police arrested a Modi'in Illit man for threatening a police commander on WhatsApp amid Highway 4 protests, leading to his indictment and detention.
Israeli Education Ministry Mandates Schools to Set Clear Communication Rules Between Parents and Teachers
Israel's Education Ministry has mandated schools to set and publish clear rules limiting when and how parents can contact teachers, including WhatsApp use. The directive, resolvin…
WhatsApp Develops Floating Search Button to Simplify iPhone Chat Navigation
WhatsApp is developing a floating search button for iPhone chats that appears when scrolling up, simplifying the search for old messages without leaving the chat. The feature is i…
Israeli Lawyer Indicted for Extortion Over Unpaid Debt and Threatening Messages
An Israeli lawyer is indicted for extorting a friend over an unpaid debt of tens of thousands of shekels, using threatening WhatsApp messages and sending men to the friend's home…
WhatsApp Rolls Out New Parental Controls for Child Accounts on iPhone
WhatsApp has launched a new parental control feature on iPhone, allowing parents to manage their child's account with age-based restrictions and automatic removal at adulthood. Th…
Israeli Competition Authority Warns Against Informal Bank Chair Meetings Amid Monopoly Crackdown
Yael Sheinin, outgoing legal advisor of Israel's Competition Authority, warns that informal WhatsApp chats between bank chairs risk illegal collusion. She highlights evolving cart…
WhatsApp Develops New Animated Themes and Redesigned Customization Options
WhatsApp is developing enhanced chat themes featuring new categories and animated wallpapers, aiming to improve personalization and design consistency. The update is currently in…
Man Arrested for Threatening Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan Police Chief in WhatsApp Group
A 44-year-old man from Modi'in Illit was arrested for allegedly threatening the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan police chief via WhatsApp and is held until August 9 as the investigation conti…
Israeli Man Charged with Sexual Crimes Against Minors Online and Decades Ago
Alon Suissa, 46, from Nesher, Israel, faces charges for sexually abusing minors online and in the early 2000s. He posed as a teenage boy on TikTok and WhatsApp to exploit girls ag…
Experts Outline Quick Ways to Spot SMS and Email Scam Messages
Cybercriminals increasingly use urgent SMS, WhatsApp, and email scams to steal personal data by impersonating trusted organizations. Key signs include urgent language, suspicious…
MK Dan Illouz Joins Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu After Leaving Likud
MK Dan Illouz leaves Likud and joins Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, criticizing Netanyahu and Likud leadership. Illouz will replace Eli Reali on the party list, with Lieber…
WhatsApp Launches New Group Chat Features Including Mass Mentions and Anonymous Polls
WhatsApp rolled out new group chat features on August 4, 2026, including mass mentions that notify all members, anonymous polls with closing times, and quick creation of side chat…
WhatsApp Beta for Mac Introduces User-Controlled Update Frequency Options
WhatsApp has introduced a new update management feature for Mac beta users, allowing them to choose between daily and weekly app updates for better control over stability and new…
WhatsApp Accounts Face Widespread Unexplained Blocks in Israel and Globally
WhatsApp users in Israel and worldwide face sudden, unexplained account blocks due to a faulty spam detection algorithm, with Meta acknowledging the issue but offering limited det…
WhatsApp Adds Email Backup Option to Prevent Account Loss
WhatsApp now lets users link an email address to their accounts to provide an alternative recovery method if SMS verification fails, enhancing security and access. Users can add a…
WhatsApp Users Report Image Sending Glitch Amid Rising Outage Alerts
WhatsApp users are experiencing problems sending images, with a surge in outage reports on Downdetector confirming the issue.
Samsung Galaxy July 2026 Update Causes Battery Drain and Overheating Issues
Samsung Galaxy users of the S24 and S25 Ultra models report rapid battery drain and overheating after the July 2026 update, with WhatsApp possibly involved. Samsung has yet to con…
