Asia · Western Asia · Sovereign state
Current time in Israel
A single time zone at UTC+03:00. Currently observing daylight saving time.
Friday, June 5, 2026
About Israel's time
A single time zone.
Israel operates on a single time zone (UTC+03:00) but has unusually complex and politically sensitive Daylight Saving Time rules, with start/end dates often debated in the Knesset.
Next clock change
2026 Saturday · clocks fall back
Clocks fall back by one hour · in 5 months.
Daylight saving schedule
Major cities
Cities of Israel.
History
How Israel keeps time.
Israel established its modern timezone framework after independence in 1948, initially adopting a system similar to British Mandate time (UTC+02:00 year-round). The country began experimenting with seasonal clock adjustments in the late 1940s to save energy and extend evening daylight hours.
In 1995, Israel passed the Law Determining the Time, which formalized DST according to the Jewish calendar, typically starting on the last Sunday before Passover and ending on the last Sunday before Yom Kippur. This created a unique situation where DST dates varied annually and didn't align with European or American schedules.
The system proved confusing for international business and travel. In 2013, Israel transitioned to a more standardized system: DST (Israel Daylight Time, UTC+03:00) now typically begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October, aligning closer to European practice — though occasional last-minute legislative changes still cause uncertainty.
Did you know?
Things about Israel's time.
Israel's DST transitions have been a perennial source of political drama, with the Knesset sometimes voting on dates just days before changes take effect. Religious parties have historically pushed for later fall transitions, while secular and business interests advocate for stability.
The astronomical misalignment is notable: Jerusalem sits near 35°E longitude but uses UTC+02:00 standard time, meaning solar noon occurs around 11:40 AM — earlier than places further west like London. This gives Israeli sunsets a relatively early feel by clock time.
During standard time (winter), Israel does **not** follow its UTC+02:00 offset. Instead, it observes **Israel Standard Time (IST) at UTC+03:00** during its "winter" period — wait, no: it observes IST at UTC+02:00 in winter and IDT at UTC+03:00 in summer. This two-hour daylight saving shift is larger than in many countries.
A practical quirk: during the brief "gap" weeks when Israel is on standard time but most of Europe and the US are still on DST (late October/early March), the time difference with New York temporarily shrinks to 5 hours instead of the usual 7 — a headache for remote workers and travelers.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Israel's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- When does Israel's Daylight Saving Time start and end?
- Since 2013, DST (Israel Daylight Time, IDT, UTC+03:00) typically begins on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October. Occasional last-minute legislative tweaks to these dates still happen, so check closer to the date if planning travel.
- Will Israel ever abolish Daylight Saving Time?
- The Knesset has debated abolishing DST multiple times. In 2018 there was serious momentum to end the practice, but no law was passed. The issue resurfaces periodically, so Israel's DST future remains uncertain.
- What is the time difference between Israel and the US East Coast?
- It varies. During Israel's summer (IDT, UTC+03:00) with US on EDT: 7 hours. When both are on standard time (Israel IST, US EST): 7 hours. During the overlap weeks (late October/early March) when only one side has switched: 5 or 6 hours.
- Does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affect timekeeping?
- Timekeeping can reflect political tensions. The Palestinian Authority has its own DST schedule, occasionally choosing different transition dates than Israel as a symbolic assertion of independence, even though Palestine falls within Israel's current de facto timezone zone.
- Is Israel's timezone confusing for travelers?
- Yes — the combination of variable DST dates, potential last-minute changes, and a time zone that doesn't match geographic longitude means travelers should always verify current Israel time close to their departure date, especially around March and October transitions.
- What is Israel Standard Time vs Israel Daylight Time?
- Israel Standard Time (IST) is UTC+02:00 during winter months. Israel Daylight Time (IDT) is UTC+03:00 during summer months. Despite the naming, Israel's "winter" time is already advanced relative to its geographic position, making sunrises around 6:30 AM and sunsets around 4:45 PM in December.
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