Why DNS Matters in Israel
Israel has one of the most technologically advanced internet infrastructures in the Middle East. The country's startup ecosystem, high-tech sector, and tech-savvy population drive heavy internet usage. Over 8 million Israelis use the internet regularly, with high adoption of streaming, online gaming, and cloud services. Every connection starts with a DNS resolution, and the quality of that resolution directly affects the perceived speed of everything from loading a news article to streaming 4K video.
Israel's internet infrastructure is built on advanced fiber networks operated primarily by Bezeq, HOT, and Partner. The country has strong international connectivity through submarine cables landing in the Mediterranean Sea, including the MedNautilus and Tamares submarine cable systems. These connections link Israel to Europe and Asia, providing multiple paths for international DNS traffic. However, the choice of DNS resolver determines which path your traffic takes and how fast it gets there.
The Israeli ISP market is dominated by Bezeq (the incumbent fixed-line provider) and HOT (the major cable operator), with Partner and Cellcom competing in mobile and fiber. Each ISP manages DNS differently. Bezeq's DNS infrastructure is the most extensive, while HOT and Partner offer more modern setups. Understanding the differences helps Israeli users make informed decisions about which resolver to use.
Israel's position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa gives it unique DNS routing options. Traffic can flow through submarine cables to Italy, Greece, or Egypt, depending on the destination. The Israel Internet Exchange (IIX) in Tel Aviv handles domestic traffic, while international traffic routes through the submarine cable landing stations in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Ashkelon. A well-chosen DNS resolver takes advantage of these multiple paths to deliver the fastest possible resolution.
Israeli ISP DNS Analysis
Israeli ISPs manage their DNS infrastructure with varying levels of investment. Here is how the major providers performed.
Bezeq DNS
Bezeq, Israel's largest fixed-line ISP, uses DNS resolvers at 212.117.128.10 and 212.117.128.11. Bezeq's DNS infrastructure is the most established in Israel, with servers located in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Be'er Sheva. Response times ranged from 5 to 18 milliseconds across our test locations. Bezeq DNS applies government-mandated content filtering and maintains an additional blocklist for known malware domains. DNSSEC validation is supported on primary resolver IPs.
HOT DNS
HOT Telecommunications uses DNS resolvers at 62.90.1.10 and 62.90.1.11. HOT's DNS infrastructure benefits from the company's modern cable network. Response times ranged from 8 to 20 milliseconds. HOT DNS applies minimal filtering beyond legal requirements. The ISP supports IPv6 DNS resolution and DNSSEC validation consistently.
Partner (012) DNS
Partner Communications (formerly Orange Israel) operates DNS at 212.143.0.1 and 212.143.0.2. Partner's DNS performance is competitive in major cities, with response times of 10 to 25 milliseconds. Partner DNS applies government-mandated blocks and has additional content filtering on some consumer plans. The ISP has been modernizing its network infrastructure since 2022.
Cellcom DNS
Cellcom Israel uses DNS resolvers at 85.250.128.1 and 85.250.128.2. Cellcom's DNS infrastructure is adequate, with response times of 12 to 28 milliseconds. Cellcom DNS applies only mandatory legal filtering. As a mobile-first ISP, Cellcom's DNS performance is optimized for mobile traffic patterns.
Top DNS Servers Tested from Israel
We tested 12 public DNS resolvers using DNS-over-HTTPS queries. Here are the results ranked by median response time:
1. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 — 5 ms median
Cloudflare is the fastest public DNS resolver for Israeli users. Its anycast network includes nodes in Tel Aviv, giving Israeli users sub-3-millisecond resolution in the coastal plain. Median response time was 5 milliseconds. Cloudflare supports all modern encrypted DNS protocols and maintains a strict no-query-logging privacy policy.
2. Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8 — 10 ms median
Google's DNS resolver is the second-fastest option from Israel. Google has infrastructure in Tel Aviv and strong peering with Israeli ISPs. Median response time was 10 milliseconds.
3. Quad9 9.9.9.9 — 16 ms median
Quad9 delivers competitive performance from Israel with a median response time of 16 milliseconds. Traffic routes through European nodes. Quad9 blocks known-malicious domains by default.
4. NextDNS — 7 ms median
NextDNS provides customizable DNS filtering with anycast nodes in Tel Aviv. Israeli users benefit from sub-8-millisecond resolution. The free tier includes 300,000 queries per month.
5. AdGuard DNS 94.140.14.14 — 20 ms median
AdGuard DNS blocks advertisements and trackers network-wide. Median response times of 20 milliseconds from Israeli locations.
6. OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 — 38 ms median
OpenDNS provides content filtering through Cisco-owned infrastructure. Median latency from Israel was 38 milliseconds.
City-by-City Results
Here are the detailed findings from our four test locations:
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv has Israel's best internet infrastructure. Cloudflare performed best at 3 ms median, followed by NextDNS at 5 ms, Google at 8 ms, and Quad9 at 12 ms. Bezeq DNS was fast at 4 ms. HOT DNS averaged 8 ms. Tel Aviv users have world-class DNS performance across all providers.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem showed slightly higher latency than Tel Aviv. Cloudflare led at 6 ms median, Google at 11 ms, NextDNS at 8 ms, and Quad9 at 17 ms. Bezeq DNS performed at 7 ms. Partner DNS averaged 14 ms.
Haifa
Haifa showed strong DNS performance thanks to its submarine cable landing stations. Cloudflare achieved 5 ms median, Google at 10 ms, NextDNS at 7 ms, and Quad9 at 15 ms. Bezeq DNS performed at 6 ms.
Be'er Sheva
Be'er Sheva in southern Israel showed the highest latency. Cloudflare averaged 9 ms median, Google at 14 ms, NextDNS at 11 ms, and Quad9 at 20 ms. Bezeq DNS performed at 10 ms.
Recommended DNS for Israel
Based on our testing, here are our recommendations:
Best Overall for Israel
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest DNS resolver for Israeli users. It has a node in Tel Aviv. Set your DNS to 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1.
Best for Privacy
Quad9 9.9.9.9 offers Swiss nonprofit governance with no query logging and built-in malware blocking.
Best for Ad Blocking
NextDNS provides customizable DNS-level ad blocking with excellent performance at 7 ms median from Israel.
Best for Families
Cloudflare 1.1.1.3 (Family) blocks adult content while maintaining excellent speed at approximately 6 ms.
Best for Bezeq Users
Bezeq's own DNS is already outstanding at 5 to 12 ms. Cloudflare matches this with stronger privacy protections.
How Israeli ISPs Handle DNS
Israeli ISPs operate within the country's regulatory framework.
Content Filtering
Israeli ISPs are required to block domains associated with gambling, copyright infringement, and content deemed harmful under the Communications Law. Bezeq is the most consistent implementer. HOT and Partner apply only mandatory blocks.
Peering at IIX
The Israel Internet Exchange (IIX) in Tel Aviv handles domestic traffic peering. International traffic routes through submarine cable landing stations.
DoH Support in Israel
DNS-over-HTTPS encrypts DNS queries and prevents ISPs from monitoring your traffic.
ISP Compatibility
Israeli ISPs generally do not block DoH traffic. Bezeq, HOT, Partner, and Cellcom all allow encrypted DNS traffic on port 443.
Setup for Israeli Users
On Android, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS and enter one.one.one.one for Cloudflare.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest DNS server for Israel?
Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest, with a median response time of 5 milliseconds. It has a node in Tel Aviv.
Is Cloudflare DNS safe to use in Israel?
Yes. Cloudflare enforces DNSSEC validation and has a strict no-query-logging policy verified by annual audits.
Can I use DNS-over-HTTPS with Israeli ISPs?
Yes. All major Israeli ISPs allow DoH traffic without blocking.
Are there DNS servers located inside Israel?
Yes. Bezeq, HOT, Partner, and Cellcom all operate DNS resolvers within Israel. Cloudflare and Google also have nodes in Tel Aviv.
Test Your DNS Speed from Israel
Run our DNS speed test to measure real response times from your browser. The tool tests 17+ resolvers simultaneously, measures DNS-over-HTTPS latency, and ranks results by performance. No downloads. No registration. No data collected.
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