Israel Sets Its Clock One Hour Forward

Israel has started Daylight Saving Time on Friday, March 26, 2021, at two o'clock in the morning. This means that the country set its clock one hour forward, also known as spring forward. Since Israel is now following Daylight Saving Time, the country will have a seven-hour difference from the East Coast. Summertime will end on October 31 this year.

According to Interior Minister Rabbi Aryeh Deri, an extra hour of daylight will aid the country's economy, which is still reeling from a year-long coronavirus crisis. Since spring has already arrived, people can enjoy another hour of daylight, helping the economy save a significant amount of energy.

Rabbi Deri is only one of the proponents of using DST throughout the year in Israel. Those who support Daylight Saving Time believe that wintertime shortens the time parents spend with their children. Therefore, it increases the risk of road accidents, resulting in the country's additional economic expenses by hundreds of millions of shekels every year.

Though there are people who support spring forward, some are not in favor of the clock changes. Daylight Saving Time has been a continuous debate for years, not only in Israel but also in other countries. According to health experts, those living in countries with DST should know how to adapt to the clock changes and make sure their sleep quality is not affected.