Daniel C.
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Verified by
Sander D.
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Last updated:
July 30, 2024
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(0)
Israel is a neutral country to go online in. By this, we mean that while it is one of the more free places to surf the net in, there are still some specific topics and areas of content that are not necessarily that favorable from the perspective of internet freedom. However, topics such as holocaust denial are deemed harmful and action taken against it stretch as far as banning films, or press reports being modified. Israel is one of the epicenters of the planet in terms of religion, and thus maintaining a respectful attitude and tolerance for all is of high importance. This is more or less apparent in the online content related to such topics as well. However, the government has the power to potentially practice widespread censorship.
Israel is a very important country for the believers of many religions. The tone and amount of information related to these beliefs has great representation online. For example, pilgrimage tours are frequently done in an organized manner, and Israel is helpful in this matter, both on and offline. On a more technical note, you can find few VoIP companies in Israel. AudioCodes, Tdsoft, VocalTec and Mind CTI are four examples of such service.
As we will observe below, there are a few quirks to the Israeli internet. Because of these restrictive measures, we are going to recommend three possible solutions provided by VPN services.
The Israeli government, similarly to the trend in Europe, tries to strengthen its grip on online content. However, it is important to note that unlike the more homogenous intentions of the EU and nearby countries, Israel is more preoccupied with creating laws and sanctions that are more relevant to what the government perceives as the problems with online content. This also affects the way this content is published in journalism, for example.
Every journalist is a government approved workforce, meaning that the nature of the articles that can be read on the Israeli internet are the result of a selective process that has less to do with press freedom. According to New BESA publications, this process is bypassed by “providing” foreign news outlets with the full information that they themselves cannot publish and then simply quoting the said news outlet.
Anti-Semitism is a phenomenon that is unpleasant to the Israeli government. Frequent action is taken up against it, and with the explosion of online culture, the internet is affected as well. Holocaust denial is thus not something to practice. It is also worth mentioning that Israel has strong diplomatic relations with the EU. The Jerusalem Post reports that on the Anti-Semitic conference of May 2015 the EU was called upon “to adopt a formal definition of Anti-Semitism that would include unambiguous reference to attacks on the legitimacy of the State of Israel and its right to exist and Holocaust denial as forms of Anti Semitism.” Israel does have a formal definition of such an activity, but this is understandable, considering the cultural sensitivity that surrounds the topic.
For other types of internet restrictions, child pornography is banned, and briefly any type of adult content was restricted via an age limit and an agreement that signifies consent on behalf of the viewer. Today, only the former is restricted; otherwise, those who connect to Israel enjoy little censorship. Military conflicts however are frequently “overseen” by the Israeli Military Censor.
Streaming availability in Israel is poor, at least from the perspective of most international companies that do business in this way. The only prominent player comes from the area of music streaming. Spotify is available in Israel, but other bigger names such as Apple Music or Google Play Music are nowhere to be found. In terms of film and other moving picture content, the situation is similarly bad. However, while Netflix is not present today in the country, they will be available in the near future. We must also note here that local television and radio stations are often represented online as well, making the usage of an Israeli VPN connection quite suitable for expats that cannot access Israeli media otherwise.
Overall, Israel has restrictions, but these are more or less understandable decisions. Nevertheless, there are limits set on certain types of online content. Therefore, we are now going to recommend you three VPN companies that provide a solution for Israeli residents to access other countries’ content, or for those outside Israel to connect to the holy lands.
First, we would like to advise you to read a bit about VyprVPN. This company offers great safety options for you; next to the best encryptions around today (that most other companies also provide), you can also reap the benefits of the NAT firewall the company built into their services. Furthermore, if you are keen on bypassing restrictions, VyprVPN runs their own brand of SmartDNS proxy: VyprDNS.
Secondly, give ExpressVPN a spin as well. While they do not offer a free trial, you have one full month of refund time, giving you thirty days of consideration, which should indeed be done. The reason for this is the ExpressVPN costs a tad bit more than the rest of the best, but you get more in return as well. With some of the best speeds and customer service, ExpressVPN are another company to consider.
Lastly, we would like to recommend HideMyAss. With this company, this is as close as you get to a global network of encrypted, safe internet connection possibilities. With VPN servers in Israel and new ones frequently being added in various countries, HideMyAss has a clear edge over its competitors in this regard. What is more, you get to use the service risk-free for up to a month by making use of their money back guarantee. (Edit)
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