Time Zone Notice
The region for IST is currently observing Daylight Saving Time. The current time zone is IDT.
Please see the correct page here: Current Time in IDT.
Current Time in IST (Israel Standard Time)
About IST
The standard time in Israel. During the summer months, Israel switches to Israel Daylight Time (IDT, UTC+03:00). IST is used during winter.
UTC Offset: +02:00
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: Asia/Jerusalem
Israel Standard Time (IST): A Complete Guide
Israel Standard Time (IST) is the standard time zone used in Israel, operating at UTC+02:00. Its daylight saving counterpart, Israel Daylight Time (IDT), shifts to UTC+03:00 during summer months. This zone is observed year-round in the IANA time zone database under Asia/Jerusalem, Asia/Tel_Aviv, and the deprecated 'Israel' entry.
What Is Israel Standard Time?
IST stands for Israel Standard Time, which is 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+02:00). The abbreviation 'IST' is widely used locally and internationally to denote the standard time in Israel. During daylight saving time, clocks advance by one hour to Israel Daylight Time (IDT, UTC+03:00). The transition typically occurs on the Friday before the last Sunday of March (spring forward) and on the last Sunday of October (fall back), though exact dates are set annually by the Israeli government.
Geographic Coverage
IST is observed exclusively in Israel, covering all its territory including major cities such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba. The IANA database lists Asia/Jerusalem as the primary zone, with Asia/Tel_Aviv as a historical alias. The 'Israel' entry is a legacy name that is now deprecated but still recognized for compatibility. No other countries or regions use IST as their standard time.
Comparison with Neighboring Zones
Israel shares its UTC+02:00 offset with several other time zones in the region, but each has distinct daylight saving rules. For example:
- Eastern European Time (EET): Used by countries like Greece and Finland, EET also has UTC+02:00 standard time but switches to EEST (UTC+03:00) on different dates. Israel's DST transition can differ by several weeks from European countries.
- Egypt Standard Time (UTC+02:00): Egypt observes standard time year-round without DST, creating a one-hour difference with Israel during Israeli summer.
- Jordan and Lebanon: Both use UTC+02:00 standard time with DST, but their transition dates may not align with Israel's, causing temporary offset differences.
- Palestinian territories: The West Bank and Gaza Strip use Palestine Standard Time (UTC+02:00) with DST, but their transition dates are often set by the Palestinian Authority, which can differ from Israeli dates.
Practical Business Hours Guidance
When scheduling calls or meetings with Israel, note the following:
- Standard time (IST, UTC+02:00): Typical business hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM local time. This aligns with 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM UTC in winter.
- Daylight saving time (IDT, UTC+03:00): Clocks are one hour ahead, so business hours shift to 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM IDT, which is 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM UTC.
- Weekend: The Israeli workweek is Sunday through Thursday, with Friday being a short day and Saturday as the Sabbath (rest day). Avoid scheduling meetings on Friday afternoons or Saturdays.
- Common overlaps: Israel overlaps well with European hours (e.g., 9:00 AM IST = 8:00 AM CET in winter) and with US East Coast during morning hours (e.g., 9:00 AM IST = 2:00 AM EST, but a 7-hour difference in summer).
Key Facts About IST
- IST is one of the few time zones that uses the same abbreviation as India Standard Time (also IST, UTC+05:30), so context is important.
- The offset UTC+02:00 is sometimes referred to as 'Jerusalem Time' in historical contexts.
- Israel has debated abolishing DST multiple times, but as of 2025, it remains in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IST stand for?
IST stands for Israel Standard Time. It is the standard time zone used in Israel, operating at UTC+02:00. Note that the same abbreviation is also used for India Standard Time (UTC+05:30), so always check the offset.
Does Israel observe daylight saving time?
Yes, Israel observes daylight saving time, switching to Israel Daylight Time (IDT, UTC+03:00). The change usually occurs on the Friday before the last Sunday of March (spring forward) and on the last Sunday of October (fall back), but exact dates are announced annually by the Israeli government.
What cities are in the Israel Standard Time zone?
Is Israel Standard Time the same as Eastern European Time?
Both IST and EET use UTC+02:00 as standard time, but they differ in daylight saving rules. Israel's DST transitions often occur on different dates than European countries, leading to temporary offset differences during changeover periods.
What is the time difference between Israel and New York?
During Israel Standard Time (winter), Israel is 7 hours ahead of New York (EST, UTC-05:00). During Israel Daylight Time (summer), Israel is 7 hours ahead of New York (EDT, UTC-04:00) as well, because both zones shift simultaneously. However, the exact difference can vary during transition weeks.
Why does Israel have two IANA time zone names (Asia/Jerusalem and Asia/Tel_Aviv)?
Asia/Jerusalem is the primary IANA time zone for Israel. Asia/Tel_Aviv is a historical alias that is still recognized for backward compatibility. Both refer to the same time zone and rules. The deprecated 'Israel' entry is also sometimes used.