Photography: Ahikam Seri
Local Testimony 2007
Gallery
2007
Photo of the Year | Series of the Year | News | Daily Life | Portraits | Culture and Art | Nature and Environment | Sport | Urbanism | Religion and faith | Video
Prof. Yossi Yonah – Ben-Gurion University / Van Leer Jerusalem Institute
Naama Haikin – Curator of the Open Museum of Photography, Tel Hai
Ala Hlehel – Journalist and Author
Gabi Menashe – Photo Editor, YNET
Ibtisam Mara'ana – Film and Television Director
Anat Saragusti – Photographer and Journalist, Channel 2 News
Shlomo Arad – Press Photographer
Miki Kratsman – Press Photographer and Head of the Photography Department at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
Keren Strauss – Senior Art Director, Getty Images, Los Angeles
Photo of the year
Independent
Natan Dvir
Nai'm Eli'am, Palestinian resident of Jabalia Refugee Camp waiting at Erez Checkpoint with the body of his three-month old son, who died after treatment of congenital defect at Tel-HaShomer Hospital. The checkpoint was closed in this period due to Hamas' take control of Gaza strip.
June 18, 2007
Series of the Year
Rina Castelnuovo
The New York Times
From sunrise to sunset they search through the heaps of garbage, scavenging for discarded metal for recycling. For twenty Shekels per day, dozens of Palestinian kids, the youngest is nine years old, dig in the trash that flows from Jewish settlements like Kiryat Arba, Hebron, Maon, as well as from army bases and Palestinian villages. They live on the other side of the Separation Barrier in economic distress, unemployment and despair. They are sent to do the horrible work by fathers, who until the outburst of the second Intifadah, earned a living working in Israel. In the early hours of the morning, in between arrivals and departures of trucks, smoke descends over the land from the burning garbage, the dump turns into the only playground for the children, that the majority of them waive education. At times, from the trash bags, a treasure is extracted; a used Purim costume, an umbrella, an alarm clock. For an instant they are children again. One of them, with white pair of wings on his back, lingers at the dump, like a butterfly.
June 18, 2007
News
1st prize
Single
News
Reuters
Ronen Zvulun
Israeli soldiers break into a Palestinian house next to Qalandiya Checkpoint, Jerusalem.
March 16, 2007
2nd prize
Single
News
Flash90
Michal Fattal
An old Muslim man passes by an Israeli police horseman who overlooks a prayer arranged by religious Muslims in the middle of the street. In the aftermath of the tension and demonstrations caused by work on the Mugrabi Gate in Jerusalem, young worshippers were not allowed entrance to the Old City.
February 10, 2007
3rd prize
Single
News
Independent
Moti Milrod
Armed Palestinian arrested by an Israeli army force, Kissufim area, Gaza Stripe border.
August 14, 2007
1st prize
Series
News
MaanImages
Wissam Nassar
In the beginning of November 2006 a series of Israeli shelling were launched over Beit Hanun neighborhood. The worst attack took place at dawn on November 8th. In the attack 19 Palestinian citizens were killed, among them ten women and seven children, and tens were wounded. Most of the victims were from the Atamna family.
Deadlocked, Gaza
November 2006
2nd prize
Series
News
Getty Images
Uriel Sinai
Haaretz
The city of Sderot and the communities of the Gaza envelope have been marked by Palestinian terrorist groups from Gaza as the prime goal for attack by Qassam missiles. In the last year, an average of five Qassam rockets have been launched over Sderot every day, and force the residents of the area to live in constant fear of the next "code red" alarm.
The city of Sderot
August 2007
3rd prize
Series
News
Panos Pictures
Ahikam Seri
African Refugees in Israel. Recently the number of African refugees crossing the Egyptian border and asking shelter in Israel increased. The Israeli public has been familiarized with their situation, since some of them are refugees from the Darfur war. Since there is no official policy concerning refugees, they are moved from one framework to another. Some are arrested and detained in the Ketziot prison in the Negev; others are placed in civilian settlements willing to host them. Arriving to Israel fills the refugees with new hope, yet, their future and destiny remains unclear.
Summer 2007
Single
News
Independent
Kobi Wolf
Rightwing activist carrying a tent, following the ascent to Homesh.
March 27, 2007
Single
News
Amir Meiri
Ma’ariv
Launching of two Qassam missiles toward Sderot.
May 22, 2007
Single
News
AP
Ariel Schalit
Sami Yifrach inspects his parents' house, damaged by a missile launched from Gaza. Sderot.
May 20, 2007
Single
News
MaanImages
Luay Sababa
An Israeli soldier points his gun at a Palestinian woman in an attempt to arrest a Palestinian man during a demonstration against the Separation Barrier, Um Salamuna.
January 15, 2007
Single
News
AP
Muhammed Muheisen
Palestinian man protects his children during a shooting between Fatah and Hamas supporters, Ramallah.
December 15, 2006
Single
News
EPA
Atef Safadi
Fatah forces takeover the Minister of Education office from Hamas.
June 16, 2007
1st prize
Single
Politics
Government Press Office
Amos Ben Gershom
Prime Minister Olmert exchanges confidences with George Bush, president of the United States.
The White House, Washington.
June 19, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Politics
Rina Castelnuovo
The New York Times
Palestinian presidential guards watch a soap opera during a break, Mukata’a, Ramallah.
May 13, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Politics
Independent
Quique Kierszenbaum
Israeli soldier checks the Identity card of a young Palestinian man, Huwara Checkpoint, Nablus.
November 5, 2006
1st prize
Series
Politics
Independent
Amir Cohen
During the last year it is possible to discern a growing pattern of activity by the IDF towards the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. During the military activity in the Gaza Strip, which is conducted to prevent terror threats, residents were arrested and brought to the Israeli territory.
2007
2nd prize
Series
Politics
A.F.P
Hazem Bader
Clashes in H1 and H2 in Bab Al-Zawieh, Hebron. Most of the demonstrations in Hebron take place in the border area between H1 and H2. The two areas are Palestinian neighborhoods, but H1 is under Palestinian authority, and H2 is under Israeli command. Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifadah in 2000, the Israeli forces have entered the Palestinian area during demonstrations and dispersed by force the demonstrators. After having dispersed the demonstration, the Israeli forces carry out arrests, set up road blocks and undertake searches. There were several confrontations between the Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli soldiers in November, 2006, following the severe injury at the Atamna family in Beit Hanun
November 2007
Single
Politics
Ilan Spira
Yedioth Ahronoth
Refugee from Darfur, Ma’asiyahu Prison
May 14, 2007
Single
Politics
MaanImages
Mouid Ashqar
May 24, 2007
Single
Politics
EPA
Atef Safadi
Fatah members patrolling Ramallah.
Ramallah
June 14, 2007
Single
Politics
MaanImages
Rami Swidan
Masked members from the Al-Aqsa Brigade, Nablus.
December 9, 2006
Single
Politics
Max Yelinson
Ma’ariv
Ehud Barak at a press conference, where he announces his candidacy for chairman of the Labor Party, Kibbutz Sdot-Yam.
Kibbutz Sdot-Yam
May 8, 2007
Daily Life
1st prize
Single
Society and community
Nati Shohat
Flash90
Palestinian workers going to work through drainage pipes, the Separation Barrier at A-Ram village, North Jerusalem.
March 5, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Society and community
Eli Dassa
Ma’ariv
One of the suspects of stabbing first sergeant Shlomi Asulin, and his lawyers, Moshe and Ofri Meroz, waiting for the hearing on extension of his custody, Magistrates Court., Rehovot.
January 8, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Society and community
Shay Levy
Family outing, Nir Zvi beach.
August 10, 2007
1st prize
Series
Society and community
Nir Kafri
Haaretz
In the Palestinian village Ya'bad, in the North of Samaria, the tradition of making coal is still preserved. The coal is produced primarily of snippets of tree trunks and branches from citrus trees, covered with straw and sand and burned slowly for several weeks.
2007
2nd prize
Series
Society and community
Kobi Wolf
Independent
The photographs from Abrabanel document the life at a mental health center, without revealing the identity of the photographed persons. The project was born out of an interest in the humane texture and the special atmosphere characterizing the place. The assignment took place over one and a half year, and required assimilation into the community. The need to preserve the patients privacy and the sensitivity surrounding the shooting process, led to the creation of several techniques in order to hide the identities and create a significant documentary procedure. The selection of the shooting angel created different cuts, and the use of exposure created silhouettes and focus changes.
2005-2006
3rd prize
Series
Society and community
Dan Keinan
Haaretz
Beauty contest for girls of foreign workers from the Filipino community from the age four to six. The community had arranged the event as an expression of gratefulness towards the Israeli State for providing legal status for approximately 2,750 children. The children received status as permanent residents and their families as temporary residents. Until now approximately 600 children have received a permanent status. Nevertheless, this agreement is effective only for children who were 10-years old before December 31, 2005. All the girls competing at the event are not recognized by the State and due to be expelled.
August 2007
Single
Society and community
Liron Shimoni
Independent
February 9, 2007
A stewardess resting between flights, Eilat Airport.
February 9, 2007
Potrtaits
1st prize
Single
Portraits
Jini Agency
Daniel Bar-On
Haaretz
New emigrants from Ethiopia, Ben Gurion Airport.
March 1, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Portraits
Independent
Quique Kierszenbaum
Mariya Aman, who was injured during an air force strike on a wanted Islamic Jihad vehicle in Gaza, is celebrating her six-year-old birthday at the rehabilitation center Alin, Jerusalem.
August 30, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Portraits
Press office
Moshe Milner
Prime Minister Olmert at the foot of Ben Gurion picture, Ben Gurion College.
November 27, 2006
Single
Portraits
Daniel Tchetchik
Haaretz
Yonit and Liel, Tel-Aviv.
May 16, 2007
Single
Portraits
Independent
Abir Sultan
A Nahal brigade recruits during camouflage training, Tel Arad.
January 16, 2007
Single
Portraits
Independent
Lior Mizrahi
Segolene Royal, presidential candidate in France, visiting Yad Vashem, Jerusalem.
December 4, 2006
Single
Portraits
Independent
Doron Stein
Applying make-up, preparation for photo shoot.
January 19, 2007
Single
Portraits
Independent
Avi Natan
Renana Raz, dancer, choreographer, and actress in the play “The Tale of a Lonely Man”.
March 10, 2007
Single
Portraits
Independent
Ariel Borenzstein
Family portrait.
June 20, 2007
Single
Portraits
Eli Dassa
Ma’ariv
Tzedi Tzorfati, judge in “A Star is Born”.
May 10, 2007
Culture and Art
1st prize
Single
Culture and art
Flash90
Michal Fattal
Trance party at the Ha’uman club, Jerusalem.
January 11, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Culture and art
Aner Green
Yedioth Communication
Preparation for the graduation performance of the Jerusalem academy of dance at Suzanne Dellal Centre.
February 20, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Culture and art
Nir Kafri
Haaretz
Photographs hanged on the Separation Barrier, Abu Dis.
March 7, 2007
1st prize
Series
Culture and art
Liron Almog
The Kibbutz Dance Company and Renana Raz Dance Company. Choreography works in carefully planned frames. Freezing them in pictures is like looking for a frame within a frame to get a picutre that bears the stamp of the dance. The performance "Ekodoom", by the Kibbutz Dance Company, focus on an observation of the processes of self-destruction and ruin. The Kibbutz Dance Company was established in 1970 as a small group and has turned into an appraised dance company both in and outside of Israel. In the performance "Kazuaria", The Renana Raz Dance Company hosted the Druze Folklore Company from Daliat El Carmel and created a special meeting between existing cultures in Israel.
October 2006, February 2007
2nd prize
Series
Culture and art
Flash90
Michal Fattal
The Jerusalem Circus was founded in 1974 and was intended to serve as a tool for joint artistic creations between Arab and Jewish youth. In the reality of Jerusalem, where the different communities are so close, and yet so far apart, the chance of knowing and working in an equal reality is rare.
2007
Nature and Environment
1st prize
Single
Nature and environment
Independent
Tamar Tal
Watchdogs on a roof in Safed.
April 4, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Nature and environment
Independent
Doron Horowitz
A flock of cranes in the morning hours, Northern Israel.
February 26, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Nature and environment
Independent
Nitsan Shorer
Ostriches from a bird’s eye view, Ostrich farm in the Arava.
December 1, 2006
1st prize
Series
Nature and environment
Flash90
Yossi Zamir
A few years ago a deer was trapped in a monastery in Jerusalem. A female boxer on the grounds accepts the deers' courting. All through the year a wonderful friendship existed between the two. In the deers' heat period, the dog understands what the deer goes through and shows an impressive tolerance.
April 13, 2007
2nd prize
Series
Nature and environment
Jini Agency
Tomer Neuberg
The animals at the Ramat Gan Safari receive a devoted care from the different departments' workers, and especially from the workers in the veterinary department. The Safari's management makes a huge effort to create a natural environment for the animals, alongside the need for providing a good spectator experience for the visitors. In spite of the attention and love from the staff, the hard physical conditions of the animal pavilions sharpen the contradictions between imprisonment, care, shelter, and display.
December 2006 – March 2007
3rd prize
Series
Nature and environment
Tomer Appelbaum
Haaretz
A leopard, one of the few that still exists in Israel, was caught exhausted in a house at Sde Boker, preying on the house cat. The fatigued leopard was in a poor health condition and was taken to the veterinary hospital in Beit Dagan for a series of examinations and treatments, which included, among other things, X-rays and CT-scan. The results showed that the leopard suffered severely from joint injuries, which made it difficult for it to hunt. The leopard was transferred to Yotvata Wildlife Park for recovery.
May 28, 2007
Sport
1st prize
Single
sport
Asaf Kliger
Maccabi Tel-Aviv, last words before the game against Tau Vitoria, Nokia Arena, Tel-Aviv.
February 15, 2007
2nd prize
Single
sport
IDF spokesperson
Neil Cohen
Basketball training, Moshav Tzoran.
July 11, 2007
3rd prize
sport
AP
Ariel Schalit
The first horse race, Afula.
October 11, 2006
1st prize
Series
sport
Aner Green
Yedioth Communication
2X3 Three disciplines of sports, two brothers, one ambition. For one year I accompanied the two brothers, Ran and Dan Alterman, the indisputable leaders of Triathlon sport in Israel, in their training to an Olympic classification, which will give them the right to participate in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Triathlon has been around in Israel for a long time but Ran and Dan Alterman are the first that achieve a high international level in this sport. Their story is the story of the Triathlon branch, a branch which has quickly accumulated popularity in a large segment of the population, from eight years old kids to sixty-five years old adults. Ran and Dan Alterman, which are identical twins, have no personal trainer in Israel. They receive their professional training over the phone or via e-mail from their trainer, Craig, who lives in New-Zealand. The main photo spots of the story are the training fields of the brothers - the sea, the running track at Wingate, the bicycle track and their house.
2007
2nd prize
Series
sport
Amit Sha'al
Yedioth Communication
The boxing club Hapo'el Bat-Yam prefers quality over quantity and invests in those who want to invest. Discipline is emphasized strongly, especially with young children. Anyone who is not certain or obliged leaves. When the club was first established, it was primarily children from an underprivileged background who joined, although today, the situation is more balanced. The club does not advertise, and the children learn of the place by word of mouth. All the trainers are volunteering in the club and make a living from other jobs. Igor Kerzner, the head trainer who did Aliyah from Ukraine in 1990, works as vice-president and electrical engineer at "M.Shemesh". Because almost all members in the club are from the former Soviet Union, the training is carried out in Russian.
2007
3rd prize
Series
sport
Daniel Tchetchik
Haaretz
In the past children used to spend their leisure time after school and in summer holidays by playing football or riding their bike with their friends in the neighborhood. In current years, since the development of the Internet and advanced computer games, the parents are forced to adopt novel ways to make their children to get up, exercise and play with other children their age. A multitude of classes have been established in order to stimulate the needed high excitement of children: Pilates classes and yoga, triathlon and even classes in unicycle.
2007
Single
sport
Independent
Michal Peleg
Yaniv Green, player for Maccabi Tel-Aviv, meets the 11-years old Caroline Taviv, an outstanding athlete participating in sport competitions for handicapped, Nokia Arena, Tel-Aviv.
March 1, 2007
Series
sport
E.P.A
Pavel Wolberg
Body Building Competition in Israel
Two sports clubs for body building exists in Israel. Each of them claims to belong to an international chain. One of the clubs is called Nabba and the other I.F.B.B. Israeli body building hardly fills a sports hall with audience during a competition and is nowhere as popular as in the States. Despite the few clubs, both of them claims supremacy and ignore each other. They do not co-operate in competitions, and each club arranges its own competitions
2007
Urbanism
Religion and Faith
1st prize
Single
Religion and faith
Independent
Inbal Rose
Celebration of Eastern at Beit Jamal Monastery.
April 7, 2007
2nd prize
Single
Religion and faith
Panos Pictures
Ahikam Seri
A religious couple looks at the Gay Pride Parade, Jerusalem.
June 21, 2007
3rd prize
Single
Religion and faith
Reuters
Gil Cohen Magen
Simchat Torah, Meah Shearim, Jerusalem.
October 15, 2006
1st prize
Series
Religion and faith
Independent
Yuval Tebol
Ceremony of the Holy Fire, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem – part of the project Religion-La
Orthodox Christians in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally believed to be the burial place of Jesus Christ, during the ceremony of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem's Old City, Saturday, April 7, 2007. The Holy Fire ceremony is part of Orthodox Easter rituals and the flame symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.
April 7, 2007
2nd prize
Series
Religion and faith
A.F.P
Gali Tibbon
Not Christians, Not Muslims, Not Jewish. The Samaritans live according to four principles of belief: one God – the God of Israel, one prophet – Moses, belief in the Torah – the five first books in the Bible, and one holy place – Mount Gerizim. Today, the Samaritan community has around 700 members. Half of them live in Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim, overlooking Nablus. The other half live in Holon.
2006-2007
Single
Religion and faith
MaanImages
Luay Sababa
Pilgrims baptized in the Jordan River.
January 18, 2007
Single
Religion and faith
Tomer Appelbaum
Haaretz
Priestly Blessings at the Western Wall.
October 9, 2006
Single
Religion and faith
Independent
Nitzan Hafner
“Good Friday” procession reconstructing Jesus’ tribulations on his way to crucifixion. Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem.
April 6, 2007
Video
Eddie Gerald
The Cave Dwellers
Eldad Rafaeli
Festivities
Ahikam Seri
Never to Return
Uriel Sinai
Beta Israel
Yoav Galai
Three Stories