How a former nationalist became one of Israel's most controversial journalists

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Gideon Levy was once a member of a nationalistic religious movement, convinced that Israel faced an existential threat. Today, the Haaretz columnist is a fierce critic of the occupation, a stance that has earned him Israel's top journalism award while simultaneously making him a target for accusations of treason.

Levy's political evolution is a central part of his identity. As a teenager, he described his views as mainstream, feeling that the Israeli project was in existential danger and that another Holocaust was imminent. However, his perspective shifted significantly after he began covering the West Bank for the newspaper Haaretz. He recalls that early in his career, he viewed incidents of settler violence or soldier misconduct as isolated exceptions rather than systemic government policy. Over time, he realized these events were actually the substance of that policy.

This shift has made him a polarizing figure in Israeli society. While he won the Sokolov Award in 2021—Israel's highest journalistic honor—he has also faced intense criticism. Some colleagues and politicians have accused him of being a propagandist or even a security risk. In 2006, a former deputy Minister of Internal Security suggested the General Security Services should monitor him, and in 2014, a Likud official called for him to be tried for treason. Even his former supporters, such as author A. B. Yehoshua, have publicly questioned his motives and the accuracy of his comparisons.

Despite the friction, Levy remains a consistent voice on the hardships of Palestinians. Since 1988, he has written his 'Twilight Zone' column, focusing on life under occupation. His work has been recognized with several international honors, including the Olof Palme Prize in 2016 for his fight against occupation and violence. Levy describes himself as a 'patriotic Israeli' whose mission is to ensure that citizens cannot claim ignorance regarding the effects of war and occupation.

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