The photo by Haaretz photographer Itai Ron that won the Roee Idan Photo of the Year Award.Credit: Itai Ron
The photo by Haaretz photographer Itai Ron that won the Roee Idan Photo of the Year Award.Credit: Itai Ron
Haaretz photographer Itai Ron has won the Photo of the Year award at “Local Testimony” (“Edut Mekomit”), the annual photojournalism exhibition at Tel Aviv’s Eretz Israel Museum.
His winning image was captured in April 2025 in the Palestinian village of Kifl Haris in the West Bank, where periodic pilgrimages are held to a site traditionally identified as the tomb of Joshua bin Nun. While Haredi visitors prayed, soldiers and Border Police secured the area, and local residents were ordered to remain indoors.
Photo by Itai Ron. The funeral of David Libi, West Bank, May 30, 2025.Credit: Itai Ron
Photo by Itai Ron. The funeral of David Libi, West Bank, May 30, 2025.Credit: Itai Ron
Ron also won first place in the “Society and Community” category for his documentation of the funeral of David Libi, 19, an engineering equipment operator for the Defense Ministry who was killed in Gaza in May.
First place in the “News” category went to Shir Torem for her photograph of Einav Zangauker, the mother of former Hamas hostage Matan Zangauker, taken during an October 2025 protest. At the demonstration in Hostages Square, Zangauker wore a black veil as part of a staged wedding ceremony held together with Ilana Gritzewsky, her abducted son Matan’s partner.
Photo by Shir Torem / Reuters. Einav Zangauker at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, August 17, 2025.Credit: Torem / Reuters
Photo by Shir Torem / Reuters. Einav Zangauker at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, August 17, 2025.Credit: Torem / Reuters
The “Series of the Year” award was given to Avishay Mohar, who documented the displacement of a Bedouin community of 150 residents from Mughayyir al-Deir, east of Ramallah, following settler violence.
Photo by Avishay Mohar. Settlers watch as a Bedouin community leaves its homes, West Bank, May 2025.Credit: Avishay Mohar
Photo by Avishay Mohar. Settlers watch as a Bedouin community leaves its homes, West Bank, May 2025.Credit: Avishay Mohar
In the “Religion and Faith category,” Smadar Ilutowich took first place for her coverage of the annual Baba Sali celebration in Netivot in February.
Photo by Smadar Ilutowich. A festive meal during the annual Baba Sali celebration, Netivot, February 1, 2025.Credit: Smadar Ilutowich
Photo by Smadar Ilutowich. A festive meal during the annual Baba Sali celebration, Netivot, February 1, 2025.Credit: Smadar Ilutowich
Ohad Zwigenberg won first place in “Nature and Environment” for documenting soldiers and civilians in the hot spring pool near Mount Bental after the Israel-Lebanon cease-fire signed in November.
Photo by Ohad Zwigenberg / AP. Soldiers and civilians bathe in the spring following the Israel–Lebanon cease-fire agreement, Golan Heights, November 27, 2024.Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg / AP
Photo by Ohad Zwigenberg / AP. Soldiers and civilians bathe in the spring following the Israel–Lebanon cease-fire agreement, Golan Heights, November 27, 2024.Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg / AP
In the “Sports” category, Abir Sultan received first place for his photograph of thousands of runners participating in the Dead Sea Marathon in February.
Photo by Abir Sultan / EPA. Runners participating in the Dead Sea Marathon, February 7, 2025.Credit: Photo by Abir Sultan / EPA
Photo by Abir Sultan / EPA. Runners participating in the Dead Sea Marathon, February 7, 2025.Credit: Photo by Abir Sultan / EPA
Michael Giladi won in the “Urbanism and Culture” category for his documentation of reserve paratroopers from the 55th Brigade and the Katzrin emergency squad during a military exercise simulating a terrorist infiltration.
Photo by Michael Giladi / Flash 90. Reserve paratroopers from the 55th Brigade and the Katzrin emergency squad, Golan Heights, October 20, 2024.Credit: מיכאל גלעדי / פלאש Michael Giladi / Flash 90
Photo by Michael Giladi / Flash 90. Reserve paratroopers from the 55th Brigade and the Katzrin emergency squad, Golan Heights, October 20, 2024.Credit: מיכאל גלעדי / פלאש Michael Giladi / Flash 90
Noga Kalinsky received first place in the “Short Series” category for her documentation of the ruins of the village of Umm al-Hiran, demolished to make way for the Jewish town of Dror.
Photo by Noga Kalinsky, from the series. The ruins of the village of Umm al-Hiran, Negev, November 2024 – February 2025.Credit: Noga Kalinsky
Photo by Noga Kalinsky, from the series. The ruins of the village of Umm al-Hiran, Negev, November 2024 – February 2025.Credit: Noga Kalinsky
The “Long Exposure” category’s first prize was awarded to Matan Golan for her documentation of Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzik Elgart was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, murdered in Gaza, and whose body was returned to Israel after 509 days as part of a deal.
Photo by Matan Golan / De Volkskrant. Danny Elgarat, brother of Itzik, across Israel, 2025.Credit: Matan Golan / De Volkskrant
Photo by Matan Golan / De Volkskrant. Danny Elgarat, brother of Itzik, across Israel, 2025.Credit: Matan Golan / De Volkskrant
The Shomrim (Guardians) Prize went to Or Sitt for video works documenting both the funeral of the three members of the Bibas family in February and Haredi protests against the conscription law in August.
Video works by Or Sitt.: Haredi protesters against the draft, Givat Shmuel Interchange, Highway 4, August 19, 2025.Credit: Still from “Haredim Against the Draft” / Or Sitt.
Video works by Or Sitt.: Haredi protesters against the draft, Givat Shmuel Interchange, Highway 4, August 19, 2025.Credit: Still from “Haredim Against the Draft” / Or Sitt.
The judging panel consisted of the exhibition’s founder and chief curator Dana Wohlfeiler-Lalkin, curator Ilia Yefimovich, and editorial board members Vardi Kahana and Ami Steinmetz.
The Local Testimony exhibition is on display at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv until February.
