HA'ARETZ

(Hebrew: The Land), newspaper published in Tel Aviv, Israel's oldest daily and generally considered the country's highest quality newspaper. Founded in Jerusalem in 1919 as an independent liberal paper in the tradition of Russian-Hebrew journalism, Ha'aretz moved to Tel Aviv in 1923. Bought by Zalman Schocken in 1937, the newspaper was edited and published by his son, Gershom, from 1939. Ha'aretz's influence and prestige are second to none in Israel, and it has maintained an active independent stance, attacking government and societal abuses throughout its history. Its readers include the leaders of every sector of Israeli society. The paper is noted for its balanced and sober approach to national, international, and regional news; its cosmopolitan flavour; and its general lack of bias in reporting. Ha'aretz is one of only a few Israeli daily newspapers not aligned with a political party and is respected for its independence. It has foreign correspondents in major world capitals.