Internet Gold Signs DoubleClick for MSN Israel

Israeli ISP Internet Gold this week inked a deal with DoubleClick to manage advertising on the upcoming MSN Israel portal.

The Hebrew-language portal, which is set to launch at the end of the month, will rely on the AdServer software, which DoubleClick (DCLK) says will be important for the new site because of its ability to segment and target its audience.

“This, I believe, is the first significant step in building e-advertising in the Israeli Internet market,” said Eli Holtzman, Internet Gold’s Chief Executive Officer.

MSN Israel will include Hotmail, passport, instant messagine, and a search engine, among its other portal features. It will also be linked to Internet Gold’s (IGLD) network of portals.

“This is a major partnership for both companies that increases the momentum that Internet Gold has already built in pushing forward the online industry in Israel,” said Jitendra Valera, DoubleClisk’s vice president and general manager – international, DoubleClick Technology Solutions. “This also strengthens DoubleClick’s penetration into the rapidly expanding Internet advertising marketplace in the Middle East.”

Microsoft (MSFT) and Internet Gold formed the joint venture for MSN Israel in October, with Internet Gold holding a .2 percent majority holding in the new company.