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INCOME TAXES (Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]      
Tax expense (benefit) computed at statutory rates, see (*) below [1] $ 48,433 $ 52,650 $ (10,972)
Effect of tax rate change on deferred tax liabilities, net(**) [2] (16,078)
Effect of different tax rates in different jurisdictions and Preferred Enterprise Benefit (33,298) (4,772) 6,108
Gain on acquisition (10,450)
Tax benefits for which deferred taxes were not recorded, see F below (15,103) (23,489) 11,687
Change in Valuation allowance, see F below (82,772) (6,212) (11,153)
Permanent differences and other, net (1,070) (6,295) (7,948)
Income tax expense (benefit) $ (99,888) $ 1,432 $ (12,278)
[1] The tax expense (benefit) was computed based on Tower's regular corporate tax rate of 24% for 2017, 25% for 2016 and 26.5% for 2015
[2] Reduction in tax rates due to the U.S. Tax Reform and reduction in income tax rates in Japan.