Ilan Ben Zion
The Times of Israel
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Past articles by Ilan:
Disposable plastics trigger culture war, testing government cohesion
A tax on single-use tableware that took a bite out of pollution is seen by ultra-Orthodox as an assault on their community; repealing it became a priority for Haredi parties → Read More
Jerusalem museum showcasing Armenian history reopens after 5-year renovation
Mardigian Museum in Old City features the rich culture and travails of a community that has maintained a continuous presence in holy city even as rulers have come and gone → Read More
As Mediterranean warms, Israel takes action to protect its marine life
Israel works to protect parts of coastline, a measure experts say is crucial to maintain biodiversity and shield ecosystems from humanity, and could be blueprint for rescuing seas → Read More
Wooing voters, Netanyahu campaigns aboard a bulletproof ‘Bibibus’
The former prime minister, famed for his flair for the dramatic, drums up support ahead of November elections with a new shtick → Read More
From Israel to Spain, scientists warn of dire effects as Mediterranean heats up
Researchers say sea temperatures are currently 3-5° C (5-9° F) higher than normal, with ever-rising heat killing many marine species, and even potentially endangering human habitat → Read More
Banksy protest painting sprayed in West Bank resurfaces in swanky Tel Aviv gallery
Artwork depicting a slingshot-toting rat was originally painted on a 900-pound concrete slab, part of an abandoned Israeli army position next to Bethlehem security barrier → Read More
Families of 1972 Olympic attack victims reject ‘insulting’ German compensation offer
Berlin willing to pay further undisclosed damages, but spokesperson for 'disappointed' victims' families says they won't attend 50th anniversary memorial unless amount increases → Read More
Western Wall elevator project unearths archaeological trove of villa, artifacts
Excavations for Old City project, designed to improve access for disabled at holy site, uncover oil lamps and a ritual mikveh that overlooked the Temple esplanade → Read More
Three 3 hidden Modigliani sketches found under painting at Haifa museum
Unfinished works by Jewish Italian Modernist artist came to light when canvas of 'Nude with a Hat' at University of Haifa’s Hecht Museum was X-rayed as part of a study of his work → Read More
To mark UN Oceans Day, divers haul trash polluting ancient underwater Caesarea port
Volunteers remove 45 kgs of garbage from between the sunken pillars and submerged ruins of historic seaport; teams worked at dozens more sites up and down Mediterranean coast → Read More
Labor party chief: All factions trying to keep fragile coalition afloat
Minister Merav Michaeli expresses hope for government’s survival despite political 'obstacles' and amid heightened tensions in Jerusalem → Read More
Looted artifacts seized from billionaire Steinhardt to return to Israel
Among 39 objects seized from hedge fund manager: 2 gold masks dating from about 5000 BCE valued at $500,000, and a set of 3 death masks from 6000-7000 BCE worth a total of $650,000 → Read More
Budding market: Lucrative cannabis industry looks to leverage ex-politicians’ sway
Increasing numbers of former leaders and security chiefs find new careers in the country’s tightly controlled cannabis industry, which hopes to use influence to change laws → Read More
As world commemorates Holocaust, many Israeli survivors rely on charity
With roughly 1 in 3 living in poverty and not enough government help, many are dependent on food donations; pandemic and rising cost of living making the problem worse → Read More
Israel’s national library sees Arabic site traffic boom
One of the most heavily trafficked resources is a newspaper archive of Arabic publications from Ottoman and British Mandate Palestine → Read More
Several of Michael Steinhardt’s looted art pieces still on display at Israel Museum
Last month US court ordered billionaire to surrender $70 million worth of artifacts, including several loaned to Israel, to avoid prosecution; museum says it is examining issue → Read More
Despite tradition, more Orthodox Jewish women are getting ordained
Women attempting to become rabbis or spiritual leaders face an uphill battle; in US, around half a dozen ordained women serve in Modern Orthodox synagogues → Read More
Bethlehem gears up for Christmas with gilded treasures, but few tourists expected
Many hotels in the tourism-dependent West Bank city have shut down and shopkeepers have struggled amid the nearly two-year-long pandemic → Read More
The last, last Jew? Simentov relative flees Afghanistan after Taliban takeover
Fearing for her safety, Tova Moradi, 83, escapes to Albania with family after getting help from IsraAid, office of President Herzog and two Israeli billionaires → Read More
Secretive Israel-UAE oil deal endangers prized Eilat corals
EILAT, Israel (AP) — The Red Sea reefs off the Israeli resort of Eilat host some of the greatest coral diversity on the planet. A symphony in splendid technicolor, the reefs are among the world’s most resilient coral colonies against warming seas. → Read More