Chris Doss wrote:
> A question about Haaretz for the Israelis (or anybody
> else) on the list.
>
> I've been on chatting a bit over the net with an
> Israeli reservist who just got back from fighting in
> Lebanon. He's actually a very nice guy. Anyway he told
> me that Haaretz is actually a fringe publication with
> only about 60,000 readers in Israel, mostly in Tel
> Aviv
Of the three major Hebrew Israeli dailies, Ha'aretz has the smallest readership, after Yideoth Ahronoth (1) and Ma'ariv (2). That is true. It is known as the more liberal elitist of the dailies. For the more educated and business class. It is analogous to the New York Times of Israel. So, fringe in the sense of the educated and powerful fringe if anything.
> and that it's actually primarily aimed at
> foreigners via the Internet (a la the Moscow Times).
That is a silly statement. It is a Hebrew paper, with a portion of articles translated for the internet. It is the Jerusalem Post that is aimed primarily at foreigners. The English version of Ha'aretz (which is only a small portion of the Hebrew paper) is bundled into the International Herald Tribune, and has only been around for around 7 years or so, if I remember correctly.
> He also says it's 40% German-owned.
There was a recent business deal with a German publishing house over
partial ownership, but it is only 25%. From Wiki about it: "As of august
2006 DuMont Schauberg has been the owner of 25 percent of shares of the
Haaretz group. This German publisher, based in Cologne, controls 4
percent of the German market with 4 daily newspapers, a dozen of other
publications and shares in the various radio stations. The deal was
negotiated with the help of the former Israeli ambassador to Germany Avi
Primor. According to the CEO of the Haaretz group Amos Shocken the
proceeds from the sale will allow the company to augment its stake at
Walla! which is one of the most popular Internet sites in Israel."
>
> True? False? Both? Neither?
>
> What does "aretz" mean, anyway?
Ha'aretz means "the Land" as in "the land of Israel" In Hebrew "aretz" is used interchangeably when speaking of Israel.