Good news for Israel’s online activists: Israel’s releasing its national photo collection from copyright restrictions. It opens up some new graphic opportunities for anyone struggling to find the right royalty free image.
The LA Times writes:
Images of key figures, pivotal moments and just plain interesting photographs documenting Israel’s history will now be freely available for fair use, largely released from copyright. The recent announcement follows a years-long process of changing antiquated copyright laws and generally turning a corner into the Information Age.
Browsing the archives is something like opening a pack of baseball cards (you don’t know what you’ll find) and looking through a family photo album.
Two particular images struck me:
Acting P.M. Shimon Peres shaking hands with Egyptian Pres. Hosni Mubarak during the funeral service for slain P.M. Yitzhak Rabin.
Rabin’s funeral seems like both yesterday and a lifetime ago. As for Mubarak, we know a lot more about the fallen leader than we did then. This was the only time he ever visited Israel and something about all that jarred me.
Which brings us to a more optimistic image.
Images convey so much for better or for worse. With thousands of photos now in the public domain, I hope their availability raises the bar for Israeli public diplomacy.
© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
