Tazpit Press Service and the Czech News Agency Sign Collaboration Agreement

Jerusalem, 11 December, 2023 (TPS) -- The Tazpit Press Service signed a content-sharing agreement with the Czech News Agency (CTK) on Thursday to increase the flow of information between Israel and the Czech Republic.

Based in Prague, CTK has been providing news since 1918. Since 1996, CTK has operated as a national public service independently of the government while cooperating with the world’s largest news agencies. Although the Czech Republic and Slovakia separated in the Velvet Revolution of 1989, CTK also remains active in Slovakia.

The Jerusalem-based Tazpit Press Service is the only Israeli wire service.

The agreement establishes the sharing of content between the agencies, and also covers potential training and visits to the Czech Republic and Israel.

Rachael Stern, TPS director of operations and outreach, stressed that media cooperation strengthens bilateral relations by boosting mutual understanding and cultural and humanitarian ties.

“The Czechs are great friends of Israel, especially the solidarity and friendship they have expressed since October 7. I’m very excited by our new collaboration, and we look forward to learning from each other,” Stern said.

Over the years, Israel and the Czech Republic have maintained close political, economic, and cultural ties, with significant cooperation in the sectors of technology, defense, trade, academia and tourism.

Jews are believed to have been living in Prague since the 10th Century. Most of Czech Jewry was wiped out during the Holocaust. Today, the majority of the Czech Jewish community, estimated at 2,300, lives in Prague.

TPS has content-sharing agreements with news services based in the United Arab Emirates, India, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and most recently in 2023, with news services in Albania, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Mongolia, the Philippines and the AIL Latin American and Caribbean Network.