Daylight Saving Time in Israel: When Do the Clocks Change? (IDT & IST)
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months to make better use of evening daylight. Israel does observe Daylight Saving Time, switching every year between Israel Daylight Time (IDT, UTC+3) in summer and Israel Standard Time (IST, UTC+2) in winter. What makes Israel’s case interesting is its long and often contested history over exactly when the clocks should change.
When Does Daylight Saving Time Start and End in Israel?
Since a 2013 reform, Israel follows a fixed and predictable schedule:
- DST begins on the Friday before the last Sunday of March, when clocks move forward from 02:00 to 03:00 (IST changes to IDT).
- DST ends on the last Sunday of October, when clocks move back from 02:00 to 01:00 (IDT changes to IST).
For example, in 2026 Israel’s daylight saving time runs from Friday, 27 March 2026 to Sunday, 25 October 2026. You can always check the current time in Israel on our live clock.
Israel Standard Time (IST) vs Israel Daylight Time (IDT)
Israel Standard Time (IST) is the winter time, UTC/GMT +2 hours. Israel Daylight Time (IDT) is the summer time, UTC/GMT +3 hours. The entire country uses a single time zone, so Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the rest of Israel all change their clocks at the same moment.
A History of Changing Clocks
The idea of Daylight Saving Time was first proposed in the early 20th century as a way to make better use of summer daylight. Israel experimented with DST from its early years, but for decades the schedule was irregular and politically sensitive. The main point of debate was when DST should end: for many years it was tied to the period around Yom Kippur, so religious considerations could shorten the daylight saving period and shift its dates from one year to the next. This made Israel’s clock changes hard to predict and frequently out of step with Europe.
The 2013 Reform
In 2013, the Knesset passed a law that separated Daylight Saving Time from the Jewish-calendar holidays and fixed it to the Gregorian schedule described above. Since then, Israel’s daylight saving time has been consistent and predictable, lasting about seven months each year.
Why the Schedule Matters
Knowing exactly when Israel changes its clocks matters for international business, travel and communication. Because Israel’s DST dates are close to — but not always identical with — those in Europe and North America, the time difference between Israel and other countries can shift by an hour for a week or two around the spring and autumn transitions.
Summary
Israel does use Daylight Saving Time. After years of an irregular, religiously contested schedule, the 2013 reform set a clear rule: clocks spring forward on the Friday before the last Sunday of March and fall back on the last Sunday of October, switching between Israel Standard Time (UTC+2) and Israel Daylight Time (UTC+3).