IvritNet, also known as irc.co.il, was founded by Roy Porat, known online as oackly, in response to a pivotal event in Israel's IRC history. In 1999, DALnet, one of the most popular IRC networks at the time, closed the Israeli Hebrew channel, #Ivrit, and imposed a ban on all Israeli users following a series of conflicts and abuse incidents involving a few individuals. This ban left many Israeli users without a digital home, prompting oackly to take action.
IvritNet was built with several features designed specifically to meet the needs of the Israeli IRC community. Supporting Hebrew nicks was one of the network's standout elements, allowing users to choose nicknames in Hebrew characters, which enhanced the sense of local identity and cultural pride. To address security and privacy concerns, IvritNet also implemented host-masking, enabling users to hide their IP addresses and maintain privacy while participating in discussions.
Determined to provide a stable, reliable community space for Israelis to connect, chat, and share in their native language, oackly created IvritNet as an independent network. His primary motivation was to ensure that the Israeli IRC community could gather without fear of losing their channels due to external conflicts or network policies beyond their control. With IvritNet, he wanted to build a platform managed by Israelis for Israelis—free from the disruptions that had affected them on larger networks.
IvritNet quickly became a vibrant hub, bringing together users from across the country and the diaspora. It offered a wide range of channels where people could chat about culture, technology, relationships, politics, and everything in between, all in Hebrew or English. Channels like #Israel, #Ivrit, and #Help_IL allowed users to connect in a more secure, supportive environment tailored to their needs.
Over the years, IvritNet became a foundational part of Israel’s online history. For many, it was more than just an IRC server; it was a space where friendships were made, ideas exchanged, and a unique digital community flourished. The network became known for its resilience, adapting to technical challenges and evolving with the needs of its users.
Today, IvritNet stands as a testament to the strength and ingenuity of the Israeli IRC community, showcasing how a committed group of users can create something lasting and impactful in the face of adversity.