Haaretz Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHaaretz Group is an Israeli privately held media company centered on the Haaretz newspaper and its Hebrew- and English-language digital publishing operations.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Haaretz Group is an Israeli news and publishing organization best known for Haaretz, one of the country's oldest continuously printed newspapers. The newspaper began publication in 1918 under the British military administration in Palestine and was formally established the following year by a group of businessmen associated with Isaac Leib Goldberg. It was initially known as Hadashot Ha'aretz, meaning “News of the Land,” before adopting the shorter Haaretz name. The publication moved through several important institutional phases during the early Yishuv period. It was first published in Jerusalem, experienced a brief closure caused by financial difficulties, and resumed publication in Tel Aviv in 1923 under editor Moshe Glickson. During the 1920s and 1930s, Haaretz developed a liberal, nonpartisan editorial identity linked in broad terms to the General Zionist milieu. Its literary pages also helped establish the newspaper as an important venue for Hebrew writers and intellectual debate. In December 1935, German-Jewish businessman Salman Schocken acquired the newspaper. His son, Gershom Schocken, became editor-in-chief in 1939 and remained in that role until his death in 1990. The Schocken family's long stewardship shaped Haaretz's reputation for independent commentary, detailed political reporting, and a willingness to challenge government policy. The organization subsequently expanded beyond the core Hebrew daily into English-language publishing, online news, and business journalism through TheMarker. Haaretz publishes in Hebrew and English and uses a compact Berliner print format. Its English edition is distributed internationally and is also available online, while in North America the print product has historically been issued weekly with selected material from the Friday edition and the preceding week. The digital operation provides breaking news, analysis, opinion, live discussions, blogs, investigative reporting, and coverage of Israel, the Palestinian territories, and international affairs. Editorially, Haaretz is widely characterized as liberal, center-left, or left-wing, although descriptions vary by commentator and by subject. The newspaper generally emphasizes civil rights, judicial independence, social issues, minority protections, and opposition to the continuing occupation of Palestinian territories. It has often supported peace initiatives and a two-state framework. Its readership is comparatively small beside Israel's mass-circulation newspapers, but the publication has substantial influence among political, cultural, academic, legal, and economic elites, as well as among international observers seeking Israeli reporting and commentary in English. Ownership has changed without eliminating the Schocken family's central role. In 2006, German publisher M. DuMont Schauberg acquired a minority stake. Russian-Israeli businessman Leonid Nevzlin later purchased a 20 percent interest in 2011. Members of the Schocken family bought back DuMont Schauberg's shares in 2019, leaving the family with 75 percent and Nevzlin with 25 percent, according to the cited historical account. The group has faced recurring financial and labor pressures typical of newspaper publishing, including a 2012 strike over proposed layoffs. It has also been the subject of intense political criticism because of its reporting and editorial positions. In 2024, remarks by publisher Amos Schocken at a London conference triggered government-related subscription cancellations, calls for a boycott, and restrictions on government advertising and institutional ties. Despite these pressures, Haaretz Group remains an active independent news publisher with a distinctive role in Israeli public discourse and a significant international digital audience.
History
Haaretz Group traces its origins to Haaretz, a newspaper first published in 1918 under the British military administration in Palestine. In 1919, a group of socialist-oriented Zionists and businessmen, prominently including philanthropist Isaac Leib Goldberg, established the publication under the name Hadashot Ha'aretz. The title was later shortened to Haaretz. The newspaper's early literary section attracted significant Hebrew writers and helped give it an intellectual profile beyond routine daily reporting. The paper was initially based in Jerusalem and was led by several editors, including Leib Yaffe. Financial difficulties led to a brief closure, after which publication resumed in Tel Aviv at the beginning of 1923 under Moshe Glickson. The Tel Aviv municipality supported the paper by paying in advance for future advertising. During the 1920s and 1930s, Haaretz maintained a liberal and generally nonpartisan outlook. Its position had an affinity with the General Zionist movement but it did not formally adopt a party line. Salman Schocken bought Haaretz in December 1935. Schocken, a Jewish businessman who had left Germany after the Nazi rise to power, was associated with Brit Shalom, which advocated Jewish-Arab coexistence and a shared homeland. His son Gershom Schocken became editor-in-chief in 1939. Gershom led the newspaper for more than five decades, until his death in 1990, and became the central figure in the development of its editorial culture. Under his tenure, Haaretz became associated with rigorous political analysis, liberal commentary, literary coverage and a willingness to challenge prevailing government positions. After 1990, the editor-in-chief position passed through Hanoch Marmari, David Landau and Dov Alfon before Aluf Benn assumed the role in 2011. The organization also developed a broader publishing structure. In addition to the Hebrew daily, it operates English-language print and digital products and has been associated with TheMarker, a business-news publication. The two principal websites provide continuous news coverage, analysis, commentary, blogs, interactive features and reporting from Israel, the Palestinian territories and abroad. Ownership remained with the Schocken family until 2006, when German publisher M. DuMont Schauberg bought a 25 percent stake. The transaction attracted controversy because DuMont Schauberg's historical ownership was associated with Kurt Neven DuMont, who had been a member of the Nazi Party and whose publishing company had promoted Nazi ideology. In 2011, Leonid Nevzlin acquired a 20 percent interest, buying 15 percent from the Schocken family and 5 percent from DuMont Schauberg. In 2019, the Schocken family repurchased DuMont Schauberg's entire remaining holding. The resulting ownership structure was reported as 75 percent for the Schocken family and 25 percent for Nevzlin. Haaretz's influence has generally exceeded its mass circulation. Surveys have placed it behind Israel's two largest mass-market newspapers in readership, but the publication is widely read by academics, journalists, political leaders, lawyers, business figures and international observers. Its English edition has helped make the newspaper an important source of Israeli political and social reporting abroad. Haaretz uses a relatively compact print design, devotes substantial space to text and analysis, and publishes regular opinion columns, investigative work, cultural criticism and reporting on social and environmental issues. The newspaper's editorial identity is commonly described as liberal, center-left or left-wing. It has criticized the occupation of Palestinian territories, supported civil rights and judicial independence, and highlighted the position of groups including Israeli Arabs, migrant workers, sex workers, Ethiopian immigrants and Russian immigrants. Its stances have also generated sustained criticism from right-wing politicians, media-watch organizations and some pro-Israel commentators, who have accused it of factual errors or excessive hostility toward Israel. The paper has defended its role as an independent and oppositional news organization. Labor and political conflicts have affected the group. In October 2012, a strike over proposed layoffs stopped the presses for one day, reportedly the first such interruption caused by a strike since 1965. In October and November 2024, publisher Amos Schocken's comments at a Haaretz conference in London, including references to alleged apartheid and Palestinian “freedom fighters,” prompted political condemnation. Schocken later qualified part of his remarks by stating that terrorism was not legitimate. The government response included calls for a boycott, cancellation of subscriptions by ministries, and a ban on government advertising. Press-freedom organizations condemned the measures. These events underscored the continuing tension between Haaretz's editorial independence and the political environment in which it operates.
- 2024
Government boycott and advertising ban
[2]Israeli authorities announced restrictions on government relationships and advertising following remarks by publisher Amos Schocken.
- 2019
Schocken family restores majority ownership
[1]The family bought DuMont Schauberg's remaining shares, leaving the family with 75 percent ownership.
- 2012
Strike interrupts publication
[1]A labor dispute over planned layoffs caused a one-day interruption to Haaretz and TheMarker.
- 2011
Aluf Benn becomes editor-in-chief
[1]Aluf Benn succeeded Dov Alfon as editor-in-chief.
- 2011
Leonid Nevzlin acquires a 20 percent interest
[1]Nevzlin purchased a minority position from the Schocken family and DuMont Schauberg.
- 2006
DuMont Schauberg purchases a minority stake
[1]German publisher M. DuMont Schauberg acquired 25 percent of Haaretz Group.
- 1939
Gershom Schocken becomes editor-in-chief
[1]Gershom Schocken took over editorial leadership, a position he held until 1990.
- 1935
Salman Schocken acquires Haaretz
[1]The Schocken family began its long ownership of the newspaper when Salman Schocken purchased it.
- 1923
Publication resumes in Tel Aviv
[1]Following a brief financial closure, the newspaper reopened in Tel Aviv under editor Moshe Glickson.
- 1919
Formal establishment as Hadashot Ha'aretz
[1]Isaac Leib Goldberg and other businessmen established the publication, initially using the name Hadashot Ha'aretz.
Products and positioning
Independent, analytical and broadly liberal Israeli journalism with strong emphasis on investigative reporting, political commentary, civil rights, minority issues and international readership.
Daily newspaper · 1918
Haaretz Hebrew edition
The core Hebrew-language daily newspaper of the group. It combines general news, political reporting, investigative journalism, cultural coverage, social and environmental reporting, editorial writing and regular opinion columns. Its compact Berliner design and relatively restrained use of imagery support a text-heavy, analytical presentation. The paper is positioned less as a mass-market tabloid than as an influential national publication for readers seeking detailed reporting and commentary.
International newspaper and digital publication
Haaretz English edition
The English-language edition extends Haaretz reporting to international readers. It has been distributed in print and online, with a North American weekly format historically combining material from the Friday edition with a selection of articles from the rest of the week. The English operation focuses on Israeli politics, society, security, culture and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is frequently read by journalists, researchers and foreign-policy audiences.
Digital news website
Haaretz.com
Haaretz.com is the group's English-language digital news platform. It offers breaking news, analysis, opinion, blogs, live question-and-answer features and reporting from Israel, the Palestinian territories and international affairs. The site supports the group's international reach and subscription-based digital publishing model.
Business journalism
TheMarker
TheMarker is the group's business-news publication and supplement. It covers companies, markets, economic policy, technology and Israeli business affairs. Its relationship with Haaretz gives the group a specialized business-journalism offering alongside general news and political coverage.
Controversies
2024
Publisher's remarks trigger political and commercial backlash
Publisher Amos Schocken's comments at a London conference led to public condemnation, government subscription cancellations, calls for a boycott and restrictions on government advertising. Schocken subsequently clarified that terrorism was not legitimate.
2017
Backlash over an opinion article comparing Israel's religious right with Hezbollah
An opinion article published by Haaretz provoked condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuven Rivlin, ministers, members of parliament and opposition leader Isaac Herzog.
2006
Controversy over DuMont Schauberg minority investment
The sale of a 25 percent stake to M. DuMont Schauberg drew criticism in Israel because of the historical association of DuMont Schauberg's father, Kurt Neven DuMont, with the Nazi Party and the publishing of Nazi-aligned material.
Brand decisions
2024
Maintain independent editorial positioning amid government pressureStrategyBackground
Government restrictions followed criticism of the publisher's remarks and the newspaper's longstanding reporting on senior officials and military conduct.
Action taken
Haaretz stated that it would continue its journalistic and public mission despite the boycott and related pressure.
Aftermath
The group faced subscription cancellations, reduced advertising and severed relationships with several ministries, while press-freedom groups criticized the government measures.
2019
Repurchase DuMont Schauberg's remaining sharesM&ABackground
The Schocken family sought to end DuMont Schauberg's participation in the group.
Action taken
Members of the Schocken family bought all of DuMont Schauberg's Haaretz shares.
Aftermath
The reported ownership structure became 75 percent for the Schocken family and 25 percent for Leonid Nevzlin.
2011
Admit Leonid Nevzlin as a minority shareholderM&ABackground
The ownership structure changed after Nevzlin sought an investment in Haaretz Group.
Action taken
Nevzlin acquired a 20 percent stake, purchasing shares from the Schocken family and DuMont Schauberg.
Aftermath
Nevzlin remained a minority owner after the Schocken family later repurchased DuMont Schauberg's shares.
2006
Sell a minority stake to M. DuMont SchaubergM&ABackground
The Schocken family sought an outside publishing partner while retaining control of Haaretz Group.
Action taken
M. DuMont Schauberg acquired a 25 percent interest in the group.
Aftermath
The transaction became controversial because of the historical Nazi-era associations connected with the German publisher's family history. The stake was later sold back to the Schocken family.
Recent events
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