Israel is on UTC+2 in winter (Israel Standard Time) and UTC+3 in summer (Israel Summer Time). The whole country uses one time zone, so the time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat is always the same.
The clock below shows the current time in Israel and updates every second. Updated: November 2026.
What time zone is Israel in?
In winter Israel is on Israel Standard Time, UTC+2. From late March to late October the clocks move forward one hour to Israel Summer Time, UTC+3. The exact dates are in the daylight saving section below.
Time difference between Israel and the US
Israel is usually 7 hours ahead of New York and 10 hours ahead of Los Angeles. For a few weeks in March, and again around late October and early November, the gap is one hour smaller, because the US and Israel change their clocks on different dates. The table shows the exact difference right now.
| City | Time now | Difference |
|---|
For example, 9:00 a.m. in New York is usually 4:00 p.m. in Israel.
Best time to call Israel from the US
Israeli offices work roughly 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so US business hours barely overlap with them. From New York the best window is your morning, which is the afternoon and early evening in Israel. From Los Angeles the working days do not overlap, so a call from your early morning reaches Israel in the late afternoon. The cards below show the best window for each city and whether now is a good time to call. Many Israeli offices close early on Friday and are closed on Saturday.
Israel daylight saving time dates, 2026 and 2027
Clocks go forward one hour on the Friday before the last Sunday of March and back one hour on the last Sunday of October.
| Year | Summer time starts (clocks +1 hour) | Summer time ends (clocks back 1 hour) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, March 27 | Sunday, October 25 |
| 2027 | Friday, March 26 | Sunday, October 31 |
Source of the dates: timeanddate.com.
The Israeli week runs from Sunday to Thursday
Friday and Saturday are the weekend in Israel. Friday is a short day, and many shops, restaurants and sites close from Friday afternoon until Saturday evening for Shabbat, when public transport mostly stops. When you plan sightseeing, check opening hours for Friday and Saturday first.
Time zone and your first day in Israel
From the US East Coast the time change is seven hours, so the first day can feel long. A lighter first day usually works better than a full sightseeing schedule: a walk in daylight, an early dinner and a normal bedtime on Israeli time. If you book a private tour, plan a relaxed start on the day you arrive.
Plan your days in Israel
Sasha Zoiref is a licensed tour guide (licence No. 11302) and leads private tours across the country, starting from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. See private tours from Tel Aviv for formats, prices and what is included.
Questions about time in Israel
Is the time the same in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv?
Yes. The whole of Israel uses one time zone, so there is no time difference between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Eilat or the Dead Sea.
Does Israel have daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks go forward one hour on the Friday before the last Sunday of March and back one hour on the last Sunday of October.
What are the working days in Israel?
Sunday to Thursday. Friday is a short working day and Saturday is the day of rest.
