Festival

Ephraim Kishon Israeli Comedy Festival takes place at its perennial base of Beit Mazia, and various other locations dotted around town, for the fourth time, August 17-21.

The festival, running from August 17-21, will offer international workshops and events, interactive and immersive experiences, and exhibitions.

Rachel Creeger and Philip Simon were set to perform at the Whistlebinkies venue, but were informed that their acts had been cancelled due to bar staff feeling “unsafe”.

Israeli DJ Skazi Asher Swissa's show in Tomorrowland was cancelled for apparent "security concerns," he confirmed in a social media post.

Government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said authorities banned the band for three years, claiming that their entry would "seriously threaten national security."

"There are no keys in bowls and nothing dirty about it," organiser Matthew Cole says, defending the three day consent-focused party after Allington residents complain of "deafening moans".

The festival is part of the rehabilitation of the Galilee, according to its artistic director.

This year’s festival opens in Jerusalem on July 16 under the aegis of returning artistic directors Michal Vaknin and Itay Mautner, and in the Galilee and Western Negev, through to August 1.

The only true downside of eating such great food at these insane prices was that my need for a post-meal nap was simply too much to handle, and I missed the light show.

The leaps-and-bounds trajectory comes across loud and clear from just the briefest of glimpses of this year’s program, which kicks off on July 22 and runs until July 26. 

The festival’s showcased artists and their works will reflect the darker reality that Israel has faced over the last two years.